What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files with information, which are stored by the server of a website on the terminal device (computer, mobile phone, etc.) of a visitor/user while navigating it. The website shall retrieve this information on each visit in order to provide relevant services. A typical example of such information is the user’s preferences on a website, as stated by the choices made on it (e.g. selecting certain buttons, searches, etc.).

According to article 4 par. 5 of Law 3471/2006 the storage of information or acquisition of access to stored information in the user terminal equipment is only permitted if the particular user has given his/her consent upon clear and extensive information. An exception to the obligation to obtain consent in accordance with that paragraph shall be the case of storage and access to information intended solely to ‘the transfer of a communication via an electronic communications network or which is necessary for the provision of an information society service expressly requested by the user or subscriber. Essentially, the user’s consent is not required for cookies that are technically necessary to make the connection to the website or to provide the Internet service.

Cookies can be installed by the provider of the website visited by the user (first party cookies) or by others through the provider of the website (third party cookies).