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Cookie Consent

Cookies and tracking technologies are essential for many digital services but carry significant privacy responsibilities under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA). The Cookie Consent Module in Open Source SAHAJ helps organizations automatically identify, classify, and manage cookies while ensuring compliance with BRD-CMS standards.

This module enables you to:

  • Automatically scan websites for cookies.
  • Classify cookies into standard categories.
  • Deploy a cookie consent banner aligned with DPDPA requirements.
  • Provide multi-lingual support to ensure inclusivity and accessibility.
  • Maintain audit-ready records of cookie consents.

Problem Statement​

Most organizations face challenges in managing cookies and tracking technologies:

  • Lack of Visibility: Hard to know what cookies and scripts are running across pages.
  • Inconsistent Categorization: Manual classification of cookies can be error-prone and outdated.
  • Consent Fatigue: Users are shown unclear or bundled notices, leading to non-compliance.
  • Compliance Risk: Failing to manage cookies properly can violate DPDPA principles on transparency, purpose limitation, and user control.

The Cookie Consent Module solves these problems by automating scanning, classification, and consent management.

How It Helps​

FeatureBenefit
Website Cookie ScanningDetect all cookies, trackers, and scripts automatically across your website or app.
Automated ClassificationCategorize cookies as Essential, Functional, Analytics, or Marketing based on behavior and purpose.
Consent Banner DeploymentDisplay a customizable, multi-lingual cookie banner to users before non-essential cookies load.
Granular Consent OptionsAllow users to opt in/out of cookie categories individually.
Audit-Ready LoggingRecord user preferences with timestamps, categories, and language for compliance reporting.

Key Functionalities in Detail​

  • Scheduled or on-demand website scans to detect cookies, local storage, and third-party scripts.
  • Real-time inventory of cookies with details (name, domain, expiration, purpose).
  • Alerts when new or unknown cookies are detected.
  • Uses predefined rules and AI-assisted classification to categorize cookies automatically.
  • Categories include:
    • Essential Cookies: Required for site functionality.
    • Functional Cookies: Improve user experience.
    • Analytics Cookies: Collect anonymous usage statistics.
    • Marketing Cookies: Track users for advertising and retargeting.
  • Admins can manually adjust classifications where needed.
  • Fully customizable banner design and placement.
  • Allows users to:
    • Accept all cookies.
    • Reject all non-essential cookies.
    • Customize preferences per category.
  • Loads only essential cookies by default until explicit consent is given for others.
  • Works seamlessly on desktop and mobile devices.

4. Multi-Lingual Support​

  • Provide cookie notices and preference centers in multiple languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
  • Automatically detect browser language settings or allow users to switch languages manually.
  • Support for accessibility standards (WCAG) to ensure inclusivity.

5. BRD-CMS Compliance Integration​

  • Consent status is synchronized with SAHAJ’s core CMS modules in real time.
  • Each cookie consent decision is stored as a Consent Artifact with:
    • User ID or Session ID.
    • Timestamp.
    • Consent status per category.
    • Language preference.
  • APIs allow Data Fiduciaries to validate user cookie consent before data collection or sharing.
  • Automated logs enable export for audits or regulatory inquiries.

Implementation Flow​

  1. Initial Scan:

    • Run the cookie scanner to detect all cookies and trackers.
    • Automated classification assigns categories to each cookie.

  2. Configure Banner:

    • Customize banner text, colors, and placement.
    • Enable multi-lingual support and define default language.

  3. Deploy Consent Banner:

    • Deploy the script to your website or app.
    • Banner appears automatically on first visit.
    • Essential cookies load; non-essential cookies await consent.

  4. Capture and Sync Consent:

    • User selects preferences.
    • Consent decisions are stored as artifacts in SAHAJ CMS.
    • API sync updates internal systems and third-party processors.

  5. Review & Audit:

    • Monitor cookie inventory and consent logs from the dashboard.
    • Export reports for audits or internal reviews.

Best Practices for Using the Module​

  • Run cookie scans periodically to catch new trackers.
  • Keep your cookie classifications up to date with business changes.
  • Provide clear, concise explanations for each cookie category.
  • Leverage multi-lingual features to reach a broader audience.
  • Link the cookie consent module with your CMS to ensure unified user preferences.