What are Cookies?

Cookies, as described by the applicable regulations, are small text strings that websites visited by the user send to their terminal (usually to the browser), where they are stored to be transmitted back to the same sites upon the user’s next visit. During browsing on a website, the user may also receive cookies on their terminal that are sent by different sites or web servers (so-called ‘third parties’), which may contain certain elements (such as images, maps, sounds, specific links to pages of other domains) present on the site being visited. Cookies are used for various purposes: performing computer authentications, monitoring sessions, storing information on specific configurations regarding users accessing the server, etc. It is specified that, in compliance with the provisions contained in Directive 2009/136/EC, there is an obligation to obtain the prior and informed consent of users for the installation of cookies used for purposes other than purely technical ones (see Art. 1, paragraph 5, letter a) of Legislative Decree May 28, 2012, no. 69, which amended Art. 122 of Legislative Decree no. 196/2003 – the ‘Code’ – and the May 8, 2014, provision of the Guarantor for the protection of personal data for information and obtaining consent for the use of cookies). Two main categories are therefore identified: ‘technical’ cookies and ‘profiling’ cookies:

Technical cookies

Technical cookies are those used solely for ‘the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network, or to the extent strictly necessary for the provider of an information society service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user to provide that service’ (see Art. 122, paragraph 1, of the Code). They are not used for further purposes and are usually installed directly by the owner or manager of the website. They can be divided into navigation or session cookies, which ensure the normal navigation and use of the website (allowing, for example, to make a purchase or authenticate to access restricted areas); analytics cookies, considered technical when used directly by the website manager to collect aggregated information about the number of users and how they visit the site; functionality cookies, which allow the user to navigate based on selected criteria (such as language or selected products for purchase) in order to improve the service provided to them. For the installation of such cookies, the prior consent of users is not required, while the obligation to provide information under Article 13 of the Code.

Profiling cookies

Profiling cookies are aimed at creating user profiles and are used to send advertising messages in line with the preferences expressed by the user while browsing the internet. In view of the significant intrusion that such devices can have into users’ private sphere, European and Italian regulations require that users must be adequately informed about their use and thereby give their valid consent. This refers to Article 122 of the Code where it provides that ‘the storage of information on the terminal equipment of a contracting party or user or access to information already stored is permitted only on condition that the contracting party or user has given consent after being informed with the simplified methods referred to in Article 13, paragraph 3’ (Article 122, paragraph 1, of the Code).

Disabling Cookies

The most popular browsers allow you to block only third-party cookies while accepting only those that belong to the visited site. Moreover, some companies that generate cookies on third-party sites offer the option to easily and immediately deactivate and/or inhibit only their own cookies, even when these are anonymous and do not involve the recording of identifiable personal data (such as, for example, IP addresses). The majority of internet browsers are initially set to accept cookies automatically. If the user wishes their computer not to receive and store cookies, they can change their browser’s security settings (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, etc.).
To change the use of cookies through the browser settings, here are brief instructions on how to perform this operation in the four most common browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer
  Click the ‘Tools’ icon in the top right corner and select “Internet Options”. In the pop-up window, select “Privacy”. From here, you can adjust the cookie settings.
• Google Chrome
  Click the wrench icon in the top right corner and select “Settings”. Now select “Show advanced settings” and change the “Privacy” settings.
• Mozilla Firefox
  From the drop-down menu in the top left corner, select “Options”. In the pop-up window, select “Privacy”. From here, you can adjust the cookie settings.
• Safari
  From the drop-down setting menu in the top right corner, select “Preferences”. Select “Security” to adjust the cookie settings.

Cookie Information

• _ga, _gid, _gat: These cookies contain aggregated analysis of user activities within the site. Which pages are viewed, navigation paths, session duration – the data is saved anonymously.
• GAPS: These cookies are used by Google Maps to store user preferences and information when locating locations or points of sale on maps automatically generated by Google and integrated into the website. They are only used on pages where Google maps are displayed. For more information about cookie treatment, we invite you to visit Google’s website.
• NID: These cookies are used by Google Maps to store user preferences while viewing maps (PREF) and to track visitor behavior (other cookies).
• YSC/VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE: They are intended to collect anonymous statistics regarding embedded YouTube videos and assess the performance of the embedded video on our website. The cookies involved are two, both from third parties, one is permanent (VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE) and the other is session-based (YSC). The cookies are controlled by YouTube (third-party cookies).
• Facebook: Facebook uses multiple technical and profiling cookies.