Privacy and Cookies
In this section you will find information on what cookies may be set when you visit a BBC website and how to reject or delete those cookies. If you wish to read the BBC's Cookies Policy, this can be found in section 12 of the Privacy Policy.
The BBC will not use cookies to collect personally identifiable information about you. However, if you wish to restrict or block the cookies which are set by BBC websites, or indeed any other website, you can do this through your browser settings. The Help function within your browser should tell you how.
Alternatively, you may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org which contains comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers. You will also find details on how to delete cookies from your computer as well as more general information about cookies. For information on how to do this on the browser of your mobile phone you will need to refer to your handset manual.
Please be aware that restricting cookies may impact on the functionality of the BBC website.
The BBC and BBC Worldwide Limited use a number of suppliers who also set cookies on both the bbc.co.uk and bbc.com websites on our behalf in order to deliver the services that they are providing. If you would like more information about the cookies used by these suppliers, as well as information on how to opt-out, please see sections 4 and 5 below.
This is a list of the main cookies set by the BBC website, and what each is used for.
Cookie Name |
Purpose |
hploc cookie |
Used to store your user preferences for the homepage in order to give you area-specific News, TV, Radio and Weather. |
BBC-UID cookie |
A unique identifier given to each computer to allow log analysis to determine the number of unique users for various parts of bbc.co.uk. Data is only used in aggregate. |
BGUID cookie |
This cookie is being rolled out as a replacement to the BBC-UID cookie. It has a slightly extended purpose to the BBC-UID cookie: as well as being used in log analysis to determine the number of unique users for various parts of bbc.co.uk (using aggregate data), this BGUID cookie is also used as a key to storing preferences and personalisation data for sites such as the BBC Homepage and BBC iPlayer. |
BBCMediaselector cookie |
Used to store your user preferences for Audio-Video content from bbc.co.uk - format (Real player or Windows Media player) and quality (narrowband or broadband). |
mstouch cookie |
Used if we have needed to reset your BBCMediaSelector cookie. |
BBCPostcoder cookie |
Used to store your user preferences for geographic specific content on bbc.co.uk - allows pages to present information for your local area, primarily on the homepage, but also in other areas like bbc.co.uk/arts. |
BBCWEACITY cookie |
Used to store your user preferences for home city - allows the weather site to present information for your local area. |
SSO2-UID cookie |
Used to allow you to be automatically signed in to a bbc.co.uk service which you have previously registered for. |
BBC-H2-User cookie |
Used for user authentication for the bbc.co.uk messageboard system. |
rmRpDetectReal cookie |
Used to store a preference to prevent 'You don't have Real player installed ...' alerts coming up if you really don't want to install it and don't want to be pestered with requests to do so. |
*votename* cookie |
Some voting systems on bbc.co.uk may set a cookie to discourage voters voting more than once. In each case the cookie's name will reflect the vote in question. |
pulse cookie |
Used to ensure that once you have taken a BBC survey, or said that you don't want to be surveyed, that you are not offered the same survey again. |
bbcComSurvey |
Used to ensure that once you have taken a BBC or BBC Worldwide survey, or said that you don't want to be surveyed, that you are not offered the same survey again. This cookie is used when there are two concurrent surveys being run. |
myway |
Used to store your user preference for which colours to use (for example, high contrast colour scheme) on bbc.co.uk/accessibility |
BBCLiveStats |
Used to capture the co-ordinates of clicks made on the BBC website pages. The cookie expires after 8 seconds and the information is used to inform editorial decisions about page layout and promotion. |
BBCNewsCustomisation |
Used to store user preferences for customisable elements, where available, within news.bbc.co.uk. |
BBCMobilePref2 |
Is a unique identifier for mobile phone users of bbc.co.uk which is used to recognise revisiting users in order to offer them a more personalised user experience. |
abtst_id |
Used to anonymously test different design ideas for sites within the BBC (known as 'A-B testing'), with the 'id' indicating which part of the site is conducting the testing. |
IDENTITY |
The IDENTITY cookie is used to allow you to sign in to the BBC website. If you ticked 'Remember Me on this computer' this cookie will remain on your computer for up to 30 days or until you click 'sign out'. Until that time, you'll remain signed in to the BBC website. If you didn't tick 'Remember Me', this cookie will be removed when you close your browser session. |
HTTPS-IDENTITY |
This cookie provides extra security with your BBC iD accounts. If you view a BBC page using HTTPS, this cookie will be passed over that encrypted connection. As such this cookie provides the most security when identifying you as a user. |
IDENTITY_SESSION |
This cookie is used by BBC iD to identify you as a user between page loads. This allows BBC iD to remember certain settings, like which part of the BBC website you were using before you were asked to sign in or register. This cookie is destroyed each time you close your browser. |
Cookies used by the BBC’s internal iStats system, hosted by Nedstat (now Comscore): |
|
s1 |
Like the BBC-UID cookie, this is a unique identifier given to each computer to allow log analysis to determine the number of unique users for various parts of bbc.co.uk. Data is only used in aggregate. |
ns_session |
Used with the s1 cookie to identify user sessions on bbc.co.uk. Data is only used in aggregate. |
ns_cookietest |
Used to confirm that your browser is able to accept cookies. |
ns_ux |
Used to identify how users interact with various parts of bbc.co.uk. Data is only used in aggregate. |
NO-SA |
Used to identify users who wish to opt out of the BBC’s internal iStats system, hosted by Nedstat (now Comscore). |
Below is a list of the main cookies that CBBC web pages set:
Cookie Name |
Purpose |
cbbc_anim |
Set whether the user wants the Flash background playing or not |
CBeebiesJourney |
Record a user’s journey throughout the Cbeebies site to allow for quick links |
cbeebies_snd |
Enables opt in for audio navigation |
bbcsr_users[x] |
Where x is an integer to identify a specific user. Used to store a user’s preferences for a ‘switch’ news reader application for accessibility purposes. |
cbeebies_rd |
Stops intro animation on the Razzledazzle site (/cbeebies/razzledazzle/) being shown more than once |
The BBC uses a number of suppliers who also set cookies on the BBC website on its behalf in order to deliver the services that they are providing. If you would like more information about the cookies used by these suppliers, as well as information on how to opt-out, please see their individual privacy policies listed below.
Cookie Name |
Description |
Nielsen/ NetRatings, SageMetrics |
These are independent measurement and research companies. They gather data regarding the visitors to BBC sites on our behalf using cookies, log file data and code which is embedded on our website. The BBC uses this type of information to help improve the services it provides to its users. How to reject or delete these cookies http://www.netratings.com/privacy.jsp?section=leg_scs |
Omniture |
Omniture provides anonymised statistical information to the BBC World Service. Omniture gathers data on behalf of the BBC World Service about visits to the BBC World Service sites including the foreign language news sites, a full list of which can be found on the BBC Languages site. Omniture uses cookies, log file data and code which is embedded on bbc.co.uk/worldservice and on the foreign language news sites. The BBC World Service uses this information to track volume of usage on the World Service sites and to help improve the services it provides to users. Information (IP addresses and information in other BBC World Service cookies) that Omniture collects is transferred to them in the United States of America. BBC World Service confirms that Omniture satisfies the EU's data protection requirements. How to reject or delete this cookies |
comScore |
comScore, an independent measurement and research company, gathers information regarding visitor activity on the BBC's websites and other BBC online services. Data is gathered on the BBC's behalf using cookies, log file data, and code that is embedded on our websites. The BBC uses this information to help improve the services it provides to its users. How to reject or delete this cookie |
Doubleclick |
Doubleclick 'Spotlight Tags' are used to measure the effectiveness of online marketing campaigns for the BBC. How to reject or delete this cookie |
Google Analytics |
The BBC News App uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. Google Analytics sets a cookie in order to evaluate your use of the News App and compile reports for us on activity on the News App. Google stores the information collected by the cookie on servers in the United States. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. By using the News App, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above. How to reject or delete this cookie |
BBC Worldwide Limited (‘BBCW’) uses a number of suppliers who set cookies on bbc.com on its behalf in order to deliver the services that they are providing.
If you would like more information about the cookies used by these suppliers, as well as information on how to opt-out, please see their individual privacy policies listed below.
Cookie Name |
Purpose |
Nielsen/NetRatings, SageMetrics, Quantcast |
These are independent measurement and research companies. They gather data regarding the visitors to BBC.com on BBCW’s behalf using cookies, log file data and code which is embedded on our website. The BBC uses this type of information to help improve the services it provides to its users How to reject or delete these cookies http://www.nielsen-online.com/corp.jsp?section=leg_prs&nav=1 |
Omniture |
Omniture provides anonymised statistical information to BBCW, about users outside of the UK only. They process IP addresses and information from other cookies used on "bbc.com", BBCW's international online service for users outside of the UK, so BBCW know how many page views it has, the number of international users, what browsers international users are using (so BBCW can target resources in the right way to maximise compatibility for the majority of international users) and in which country, city or region international users are located. Omniture is also used to provide similar information for the international version of the BBC News App for Apple iPad and iPhone for users outside of the UK only. How to reject or delete this cookie |
comScore |
Comscore provide BBCW with analytical information about visitors. ComScore collect data on the traffic and engagement for the site to provide BBCW with a competitive context of their performance versus the market. This data is then used for sales pitches, editorial, strategy, business development and product development. How to reject or delete this cookie |
Effective Measure |
Effective Measure provide BBCW with analytical information about visitors based in the Middle East and Africa. Effective Measure collect data on the traffic and engagement for the site to provide BBCW with a competitive context of their performance versus the market. This data is then used for sales pitches, editorial, strategy, business development and product development. How to reject or delete this cookie |
Doubleclick |
Double Click is used by BBC World Ltd and BBCW as they publish advertising on bbc.com when the site is accessed outside the UK. This service gathers information regarding visits made by international users which is used to decide on the insertion of adverts. How to reject or delete this cookie |
Ad Serving (non-targeted) |
These cookies are set ONLY for users outside the UK who will be visiting the international version of the website. The advertisements seen by international users of the site are served by a number of third party ad serving providers, including DoubleClick, Advertising.com (AOL), Adviva.net (Specific Media), AdRevolver (BlueLithium-Yahoo!), 247realmedia.com, Atlas (atdmt), Mediaplex (ValueClick) and MediaMind (Eyeblaster), amongst others. The cookies accompanying the ads allow them and their advertisers to monitor the effectiveness of the ads (e.g. by using statistical analysis cookies) and make the ads more relevant to you (e.g. if you use our sites from outside of the UK, you may get ads from your local country). How to reject or delete these cookies http://www.doubleclick.com/privacy/index.aspx |
Ad Serving (targeted) - AudienceScience Inc. (formerly Revenue Science, Inc.) |
These cookies are set ONLY for users outside the UK who will be visiting the international version of the website. This company uses cookies to discover general information about the pages on "bbc.com" that you visit and it also processes IP addresses to collect other non-personally identifiable information in order to place you in a "market segment". This includes data about the country, city or region where you are located and your domain name (e.g. what ISP you use). It then places advertisements onto "bbc.com" which it believes people in your market segment will find relevant. How to reject or delete these cookies |
The BBC uses the Adobe Flash Player to deliver its video content services, such as the BBC iPlayer, throughout the site. To improve user experience, Local Shared Objects - or Flash Cookies as they are commonly known - are employed to provide features such as auto-resume and for saving your preferences. Flash Cookies are stored on a user's terminal much the same as cookies are, however it is not possible to manage them at browser level in the same way.
The BBC uses MemeCounter, a UK based analytics service, to gather non-personal usage information for some of our online games. This information is used to help us to better understand how our online games (including quizzes) are consumed. This information is not used to link you to a particular game you have played and any IP address gathered in the process is discarded when you stop playing.
The Adobe website provides comprehensive information on how to delete or disable Flash cookies either for a specific domain like bbc.co.uk or for all websites - see http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/security for details. Please be aware that restricting the use of Flash Cookies may affect the features available to you for Flash based applications such as the BBC iPlayer.
Please note that if you disable your Flash cookies for the BBC website you will be unable to play content on BBC iPlayer. This is a temporary issue and we hope to resolve it shortly. More information is available on our Internet Blog at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2011/03/bbc_media_player_update_fix_fo.html
To support our journalism, we sometimes embed photos and video content from websites such as YouTube and Flickr. As a result, when you visit a page with content embedded from, for example, YouTube or Flickr, you may be presented with cookies from these websites. The BBC does not control the dissemination of these cookies. You should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
BBC Sharing Tools
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the BBC website now carries embedded ‘share’ buttons to enable users of the site to easily share articles with their friends through a number of popular social networks. These sites may set a cookie when you are also logged in to their service. The BBC does not control the dissemination of these cookies and you should check the relevant third party website for more information about these.
If you shorten BBC URLs, for example on Twitter or Facebook, and use the bit.ly service to do so, the BBC works with bit.ly to rebrand that as a http://bbc.in/xxxxx link. Also BBC web products or phone apps sometimes offer features that allow users to share links with social networks and the BBC shortens that URL using the bit.ly service
Bit.ly provides the BBC with anonymised, aggregated statistics relating to use of the shortened BBC URL, for example by telling us how many times it has been clicked on. The BBC does not have access to the IP address of your computer collected by bit.ly when you use its service or any other identifiable information about you. Nor does Bit.ly have any access to data collected on a BBC website. For more information on bit.ly's privacy policy, please see http://bit.ly/pages/privacy.
Last updated: 26th May 2011
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