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Cookie and Website Compliance

KVKK and Data Protection

Today, websites use various technologies to improve the user experience, personalise services and carry out digital analytics. The main one of these technologies is cookies (çerezler).

Cookies are small data files saved on users’ devices by the websites they visit. Although these technologies help digital services work more efficiently, they require a legal assessment as regards the processing of personal data.

It is important for website owners to organise their use of cookies in line with the Law on the Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 (KVKK) and personal data protection principles, so that users are informed, their consent is obtained where necessary and data processing is carried out transparently.

Cookies are small pieces of data stored in the browser or on the device when users visit a website. Through this data, websites can remember user preferences, manage sessions or analyse visitor behaviour.

For example, remembering the products added to the basket on an e-commerce site, user preferences or visit analytics can all be handled through cookie technologies.

However, since the use of cookies may in some cases mean processing personal data, it should be managed carefully from a legal point of view.

Many websites use different types of cookies to provide a better service to their users. However, not every cookie used has the same legal character.

Some cookies may be strictly necessary for the website to perform its basic functions, while others may be used to analyse user behaviour or support advertising activities.

For this reason, website owners need to identify clearly which cookies they use, for what purpose these cookies work and what data they process.

Information obtained through cookies may, in certain cases, qualify as personal data. In particular, technologies that track user behaviour, carry out ad targeting or make a person identifiable should be assessed under the KVKK.

In their data processing activities, website owners must act in line with the basic principles of lawfulness, transparency, purpose limitation and proportionality.

The key issue with cookie use is that users are informed in a way that allows them to understand which of their data is processed and for what purposes.

What Types of Cookies Are There?

Cookies used on websites can be divided into different categories according to their purpose.

Strictly necessary cookies are cookies required for the basic functions of the website to work. In some cases these cookies may need to be used so that the service requested by the user can be provided.

Analytics cookies may be used to understand how users use the site, produce visit statistics and improve services.

Marketing and advertising cookies may be used for purposes such as analysing user behaviour and showing personalised advertisements.

A cookie notice (çerez aydınlatma metni) is the legal text that informs website users about the cookies used.

This text should give clear and understandable information about the types of cookies used, their purposes, the data processing involved and users’ rights.

Rather than containing only general statements, the cookie notice should reflect the technologies actually used on the website concerned.

Cookie notification screens on websites are one of the important tools that allow users to manage their preferences.

Especially for cookies that are not strictly necessary, users must be given a genuine choice. Steering users only towards the “accept” option, or not offering a way to reject, may create legal risk.

Configuring cookie management tools correctly is important both for the user experience and for KVKK compliance.

Use of Google Analytics and Advertising Tools

Many websites use Google Analytics for visitor analytics, and Meta Pixel and similar digital tracking tools for advertising.

When such tools are used, it should be assessed what data is collected, by whom the data is processed and how users are informed.

Using digital marketing tools does not remove the website owner’s personal data protection obligations.

E-commerce platforms process large amounts of data because of user accounts, purchase history, payment processes and marketing activities.

For this reason, cookie management on e-commerce sites should be treated not only as a technical task but as part of the legal compliance process.

The technologies used for product recommendations, user behaviour analysis and ad targeting must be assessed under the KVKK.

Making a website KVKK-compliant is not completed simply by adding a privacy policy or a cookie notice.

Contact forms, membership systems, plugins in use, third-party services, analytics tools and data retention processes must be examined together.

Checking all the data collection points on the website from a legal perspective helps reduce the risk of disputes and administrative sanctions.

In the digital world, websites are no longer just platforms that provide information; they have also become systems that process large amounts of data.

Managing cookie use correctly is therefore important for protecting users’ rights, increasing businesses’ credibility and creating sustainable digital processes that comply with personal data legislation.

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