Legal chaos surrounding cookies: New regulations cause confusion!

Legal chaos surrounding cookies: New regulations cause confusion!

Today, August 11, 2025, the citizens of Cologne have to prepare for some changes in the area of ​​waste disposal. The Bärenloch disposal center will remain completely closed to the public on Wednesday. This measure could bring some surprises for those who need to have their waste disposal clarified. As the Solingen news According to reports, there will be no opportunity to drop off trash there that day.

But something is not only happening in the area of ​​waste disposal. The topic of cookies, which is often on everyone's lips these days, is also high on the agenda. Cookies are small text files that are stored on users' computers. They store valuable information, such as language settings or login status on websites. This information is intended primarily to make surfing easier for visitors to the pages WBS Legal has determined.

The legal situation surrounding cookies

In the world of the Internet it currently appears that the legal situation regarding cookies and their use is anything but clear. Warnings due to incorrect cookie banners or consent not being obtained in a timely manner are commonplace. For a long time, website operators were able to score points with a simple “ok” button, which often left users with no real choice.

However, with the entry into force of the Telecommunications Telemedia Data Protection Act (TTDSG) on December 1, 2021, a lot has changed. Now it is necessary for the setting of cookies that there is clear and comprehensive consent from the users if they are not strictly necessary cookies. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which regulates the processing of personal data, brings additional complexity into play. For example, the IP address is considered personal data and its transmission to the USA is problematic due to the “Schrems II” ruling.

Cookies: necessity versus tracking

The discussion about cookies often revolves around the question of which types of cookies are necessary and which are not. While necessary cookies - for example for the shopping cart or the login status - are generally accepted, tracking cookies to analyze user behavior always require consent. This leads to a legal gray area that harbors a lot of uncertainty, as the frequent warnings show.

At a time when data protection is a top priority and cookie banners pop up on almost every corner, clear, transparent information for users is a must. The legal requirements for these banners are extensive and many operators are not sufficiently aware of the risks that can arise from their use.

Finally, it should be noted that there is a lot of movement in the area of ​​both waste disposal and digital data security. We are excited to see what developments await us in the coming weeks. Kölsche Kecke look to the future and hope that the city and the judiciary will take on these challenges together.