ICO confirms 95% of popular UK websites pass cookie compliance check
04/12/2025 | ICO
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has provided an update concerning its action to tackle cookie compliance among the UK’s most visited websites. Following the intervention, 979 of the top 1,000 UK websites now comply with rules on advertising cookies.
The ICO's assessment focused on ensuring non-essential cookies were not placed before user choice, that rejecting cookies was as easy as accepting, and that no cookies were placed without consent. While 415 sites passed immediately, 564 improved practices after the ICO sent letters and opened investigations, with 17 preliminary enforcement notices issued. While the ICO is satisfied that the threat of enforcement led to compliance, it will continue to intervene with the remaining 21 non-compliant websites.
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