A cookie is a small data file that is downloaded from a website on to your device.
It helps that website remember how you use the site, but it doesn’t contain any personal information and cannot be used to identify who you are.
The purpose of cookies is to make it easier and quicker for you to use the site.
For example, if you sign in to use a service, a cookie will remember that you have already signed in so that you don't have to enter your username and password on every single page you visit.
Cookies can also measure how many people visit a website, and how they use it. This information can be used to improve the overall experience for users.
We will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you.
However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by our websites, or indeed any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. The ‘Help’ function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, this guide contains comprehensive information on how to restrict or block cookies on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your machine as well as more general information about cookies.
Please be aware that restricting cookies may impact the functionality of our website.
If you wish to view your cookie code, just click on a cookie to open it. You’ll see a short string of text and numbers. The numbers are your identification card, which can only be seen by the server that gave you the cookie.
For information on how to do this on the browser of your mobile phone you will need to refer to your handset manual.
To opt-out of third parties collecting any data regarding your interaction on our website, please refer to their websites for further information.
Like many websites, Ofcom uses 'session-based' cookies to ensure your visit to this site runs as smoothly as possible. These cookies remember the selections or preferences that you’ve already made when looking at information or using a service, and are also used to help our servers cope with changes in traffic to the site. Some are necessary for website functions, like social sharing buttons, to work.
They are used on the Ofcom website and subsites, including:
| Name | Expires |
|---|---|
| ofclb | When user exits browser |
| JSESSIONID | When user exits browser |
| PHPSESSID | When user exits browser |
| ASP.NET_SessionId | When user exits browser |
We use Google Analytics to see how people use the Ofcom site. It helps us to see how many people visit, which pages they view and how they navigate through the site. We use this information to make improvements to the site.
These cookies are used on the Ofcom website and subsites.
| Name | Expires |
|---|---|
| _utma | 2 years |
| _utmb | 30 minutes |
| _utmc | When user exits browser |
| _utmz | 6 months |
| _ga | 2 years |
| _gid | 24 hours |
| _gat | 1 minute |
| _ga_user_id | 2 years |
| _utmt | 10 minutes |
| Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
| optimizelyEndUserId | Used to deliver consistent experiences across page loads. |
__cfduid, _hp_id.3538148622 | CloudFlare service cookies used to identify trusted web traffic. |
1P_JAR, IDE, UULE, SIDCC | Google advertising cookies used for user tracking and ad targeting purposes. |
| _dc_gtm_UA-4336874-29, _dc_gtm_UA-4336874-14, _gat_UA-4336874-14, _dc_gtm_UA-4336874-1 | Google Tag Manager cookies used to distinguish users and events on the website and analyse how users interact with the website. |
| _hjIncludedInSample | Hotjar session cookie used to see how visitors behave our websites. |
| icims_current_customer, icimsCookiesEnabledCheck, icims_GAClientID, cookie_icims_iframe_content_height | ICIMS cookies to support job search and application functionality on our jobs portal. |
| BrowserId | Used on the Ofcom online licensing services portal to remember login details so that user does not need to keep logging in. |
Our third-party email service stores subscribers' personal data outside the EU/UK and uses cookies to measure engagement with our Update emails. The cookies help us to improve our service. Subscribers can check whether they have accepted these tracking cookies and opt out by managing their preferences. To access your preference centre, click on the 'Update my preferences' link available in any Update email.
| Name | Purpose |
|---|---|
SID, HSID | Allow YouTube to collect usage information for YouTube hosted videos. |
| APISID, HSID, SAPISID, SID, SSID | Used in conjunction with the Google+1 button to enable you to share information publicly as part of your Google Profile. |
act, c_user, datr, dpr, fr, sb, wd, xs | Used by Facebook to support social sharing and the integration of Facebook services. |
| __atuvc, __atuvs, loc, mus, ouid, uvc | AddThis is a social sharing tool that allows you to share the site content on social media or by email. They track interactions with the embedded sharing buttons and monitor its usage. |
| BrowserId | BrowserID aims to offer you one single log-in to websites and services, connected through your e-mail address. |
| NMS_collapse | iconnectiv cookie that remembers whether graphical user interface screen elements are collapsed or expanded. |
