The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), enacted by the European Union, requires that websites obtain explicit, informed consent from visitors before storing non-essential cookies or similar tracking technologies on their devices. Because GDPR applies to any organization that processes the personal data of EU residents—regardless of where the website itself is hosted—most websites worldwide adopted cookie consent banners/notifications to remain compliant, which is why these notifications are now seen almost universally across the web. Neither COPPA (which protects children's online privacy) nor the SHIELD Act (a New York data security breach notification law) mandates cookie consent banners.
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