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Understanding Data Privacy: A Closer Look at Cookie Durations and Vendor Practices

As the digital landscape grows, understanding how your data is collected and processed online is becoming more critical. Various TCF (Transparency and Consent Framework) vendors use cookies to collect data, and the duration of these cookies can range from days to years. Here’s a breakdown of some key vendors and their cookie policies to help you stay informed.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small pieces of data stored on a user’s device that help track user behavior, preferences, and browsing activity. These cookies allow websites to provide a more personalized experience but also raise concerns about privacy and data security.

Vendor Overview and Cookie Durations

1. Exponential Interactive, Inc. (VDX.tv)

   • Duration: 90 days
   • Data Collected: Probabilistic identifiers, IP addresses, browsing data, device identifiers. The cookie resets every session to ensure privacy updates.

2. Roq.ad GmbH

   • Duration: 365 days
   • Data Collected: Includes precise location data, device characteristics, and authentication-derived identifiers.

3. Quantcast

   • Duration: 396 days
   • Data Collected: User-provided data, IP addresses, browsing data, and device characteristics. Quantcast uses probabilistic identifiers for personalized experiences.

4. BeeswaxIO Corporation

   • Duration: 395 days
   • Data Collected: IP addresses, browsing data, precise location data, and device identifiers. The cookie resets each session to maintain updated privacy choices.

5. Sovrn, Inc.

   • Duration: 365 days
   • Data Collected: IP addresses, browsing data, and device identifiers.

Why Cookie Duration Matters

The length of time a cookie lasts can affect your privacy. Some cookies expire at the end of a session, while others may remain active for months or even years. Understanding these durations can help users make more informed decisions about their online privacy.

For example, while a 90-day cookie duration may seem short, some vendors offer cookie durations of over a year, collecting substantial data throughout that time. Each vendor’s policy determines what type of data they collect, how long they store it, and what security measures they implement.

Conclusion

Data privacy is crucial, and as online platforms continue to collect data via cookies, it’s essential to be aware of how long cookies last and what data is being collected. By reviewing privacy policies and understanding cookie durations, users can take steps to protect their personal information while browsing the web.

For more information, you can visit the privacy policy pages of each vendor.