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Cookie Guidelines
What are Cookies?
A cookie is a small text file placed on a visitor's computer by a Web site
in order to remember certain pieces of information.
What are the Cookie Guidelines?
The Guidelines
explain cookies and provide a series of steps on how to effectively manage
them on Government of Canada Web sites.
Why are the Guidelines needed?
- Cookie technology is not
well understood and this has resulted in widespread confusion about why and
how they are used. The Guidelines clarify this technology for Government of
Canada program and web practitioners.
- Since cookies have the
ability to store or index personal information, they have the potential to
pose privacy and security risks. The Guidelines outline how to avoid those
risks.
- Common Look and Feel for
the Internet Standard 5.3 requires that all Government of Canada Web sites
have a Privacy Notice that must refer to cookies, if they are used. The
Guidelines provide advice on how best to comply with this Standard.
- The Guidelines also
outline best practices which, if implemented, will help instill public
confidence in Government of Canada Web sites.
How do the Guidelines help?
- These Guidelines provide
direction on the use of cookies and other similar technologies and are
designed to complement the existing legislative and policy framework.
- A detailed question and
answer sheet that Government of Canada webmasters can post on their sites is
included.
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