The EU (European Union) introduced an EU Cookie Directive in 2011.
The EU Cookie directive is quite in-depth.
In summary, the EU Cookie Directive requires websites owned in the EU, or targeting visitors in the EU, must give visitors the right to block cookies, and to explain to website visitors what cookies are used by that website.
Each EU member state has an "enforcing" institution which is set the task of enforcing the EU Cookie Directive within its own borders.
Within the UK the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) is tasked with the enforcement of the EU Cookie Directive within the United Kingdom.
The UK ICO has produced this 30 page 
EU Cookie Directive guidance document
It is outside the scope of this article to explain all the legalities and technicalities of the EU Cookies Directive except for a very simple summary:.
The acceptance of cookies can be Explicit or Implied.
When the acceptance (or not) is Explicit - you explicitly say Yes, or No, to the acceptance of cookies. Whatever you say - how does a website "remember" your answer ? By a Cookie - so as a Website developer you might find yourself in a no-win situation.
Then there is Implied. By continuing to visit a website your visitor is implying that they are ok with Cookies - providing the visitor knows cookies are used.
The UK ICO has determined that Implied Consent is acceptable.
While other EU member states enforcing administrations may require "Explicit" consent
Here at UsingJoomla.com we do use a Joomla! extension that brings to the attention of site visitors that we use cookies.
You may (should have) noticed a bar pop up at the bottom of the page that looks like the following image
The Web357.com Cookie notification Bar is fully customisable - custom CSS can be used, colours and wording can be customised to suit you - so what you see here is as it has been customised by usingjoomla.com.
Colours for example can be set to suit the theme, look and feel of your own joomla website.
The notification bar can contain up to four buttons, the exact wording is customisable: 'Accept Cookies' 'Decline Cookies' 'About Cookies' and 'More Info'.
Clicking 'Accept Cookies' will cause the notification bar to stop appearing again until you clear your browser cookies. 'More Info' - this will take you to our (or, for you: your) Privacy and Cookies Policy. The link can be set to open a 'moda'l' window, a new window, or on the same window / tab that your website visitor is on. 'About Cookies' will open a modal window within which we explain about the different cookies we use.
If visiting this site using a mobile device, the Cookie Bar will automatically appear appropriately to the device screen size that you are using.
So, why do we say so much about this ?
If you are required to comply with the EU Cookie directive, whether Explicit Consent or Implied Consent is required, you may like to visit the Cookie Notification Bar (for Joomla!) developer who has produced a highly configurable solution to the EU Cookie Directive.
Whether you need "Explicit" (Cookies are blocked until accepted) or "Implied" consent the Web357.com Cookies Policy Notification Bar is highly recommended.
Extensions found on the Joomla Extension Directory total over 8000 extensions.
Out of those extensions web357 Cookies Policy Notification Bar plugin is in the top 400 of those extensions based on user ratings.
Great job from this brilliant developer.
With the Web357 Cookies Policy Notification Bar there is only a Paid / Subscription version.
The following features are available:
| Cookies Policy Notification Bar | |
| Feature | Included |
Multilingual Support |
✔ |
Option to block cookies until visitor clicks 'Accept' |
✔ |
7 Styling Positions Top Center Bottom Top left Top right Bottom left Bottom right |
✔ |
Duration of message appearance in seconds |
✔ |
Animate duration - in milliseconds Default is 2000 (milliseconds) |
✔ |
Limit the number of times the notification bar will appear if button is not clicked |
✔ |
Message - the message that is given in the bar is customisable |
✔ |
Font colour - you can choose / set the color of text font |
✔ |
| Article Navigation Assistant | |
 Go to top of page |
|
| Cookies Policy Notification Bar | |
| Feature | Included |
Link colour - you can choose / set the colour of the link text |
✔ |
Font size can be changed within settings |
✔ |
The body of the page can be locked until the user Accepts or Declines |
✔ |
Choose if you want to allow the notification bar cover the body of the page |
✔ |
Button styling can be customised |
✔ |
Background opacity can be changed |
✔ |
Background colour - you can set this according to your template colours if you wish |
✔ |
'Always Display' setting Useful for de-bugging The cookies notification bar will be displayed even if the user 'accepts' or 'declines' cookies. This feature is mostly used by administrators in the first steps of setup and customisation. |
✔ |
| Article Navigation Assistant | |
| Go to top of page |
|
| Cookies Policy Notification Bar | |
| Feature | Included |
Limit the number of times the notification bar will appear if button is not clicked |
✔ |
Custom css - you can enter your own cookie bar CSS within the plugin settings page |
✔ |
Include or exclude from specific pages |
✔ |
Debugging tools |
✔ |
Choose 'Yes' or 'No' to load jQuery |
✔ |
Select 'Yes' or 'No' to show bar in an iFrame |
✔ |
'More info' button can link to any URL you enter in 'More info link' setting box |
✔ |
Custom Javascript allowed - enter your own javascript |
✔ |
| Article Navigation Assistant | |
| Go to top of page |
|
| Cookies Policy Notification Bar | |
| Feature | Included |
Block Cookies by blocking their Javascript Code |
✔ |
Set Cookie expiration time |
✔ |
Show the notification bar in selected countries and / or continents using GEOip web service |
✔ |
Hide the notification bar in selected countries and / or continents using GEOip web service |
✔ |
Choose whether or not to refresh the page when user accepts / declines cookies |
✔ |
Option to always accept / allow Joomla Session Cookies |
✔ |
Option (parameter) set to 'Yes' or 'No' to have cookies automatically accepted based on the visitor scrolling * |
✔ |
Option to show an X (close) icon in the notification bar This is to assist in meeting the Italian Guarantee for the Protection of Personal Data (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali) The 'X' can only be displayed if the Cookie Notifciation bar is displayed in the following positions center top-left top-right bottom-left bottom-right The Italian Garante Guidelines for GDPR cookies |
✔ |
| Disclaimer | |
UsingJoomla.com is not affiliated to or endorsed by web357.com |
|
| Useful Links | |
Cookies Policy Notification Bar |
|
| Article Navigation Assistant | |
| Go to top of page |
* In some countries it is permitted to automatically set cookies as accepted by the visitor scrolling the page and continuing to use the website. This feature within the Cookie Notification Bar can be set to 'Yes' (automatically accept Cookies by visitor scrolling) or 'No' (do not automatically accept Cookies when the visitor scrolls).
