Why We Built Our Own Cookie Database (And Why it Matters for Compliance)

Our automated Verified CONSENT tool doesn’t just audit your home page—it crawls your website(s) and classifies cookies and tracker scripts with confidence. That confidence starts with the foundation: our in-house, human-verified cookie database.

This May, we added hundreds of new cookie classifications. This update wasn’t just about volume—it was about precision. Our goal? To achieve 90% auto-classification accuracy for all third-party vendor cookies found on websites—without sacrificing quality.

But why build our own database when others rely on public or third-party sources? The answer is simple: because compliance depends on accuracy—and most databases fall short.

Why We Don’t Rely on Third-Party Databases

We evaluated existing public cookie databases like Cookiepedia and CookieDatabase.org. While they’re a starting point, we found consistent gaps:

• Critical tracking cookies (e.g. __rtbh.uid from RTB House, _ttp from TikTok) were missing or misclassified.
• Descriptions were vague, incomplete, or hadn’t been updated in months.
• No clear ownership, update schedule, or accountability.

For a compliance tool, accuracy isn’t optional—it’s foundational. Relying on inconsistent third-party data would compromise our users’ audits and, ultimately, their legal compliance.

That’s why we made a strategic decision: we built and own our own database. This isn’t a side project—it’s a core part of our technology stack, reflecting our investment in quality, transparency, and long-term reliability.

How We Maintain the Highest Data Quality

Every cookie in our database is verified through a rigorous, human-led process:

1. Source Identification
We trace each cookie to its vendor—no assumptions, no automation.

2. Documentation Review
We consult official vendor documentation, privacy policies, and technical specs to understand intent.

3. Intent-Based Classification
When vendors are opaque (common in adtech), we classify based on the tool’s purpose, not just the cookie name. For example: a cookie named lang might seem “necessary”—but if it’s set by an ad-targeting tool, we classify it as Marketing.

4. Monthly Updates
The database is refreshed at least monthly, with new vendors, emerging tracking methods, and corrections.

This isn’t outsourced or bot-generated. It’s our stack, our process, our standard.

The Bottom Line: Confidence Through Control

While others depend on stale, third-party lists, Verified Data invests in its own technology—because compliance isn’t about coverage. It’s about trust.

When you run a Verified CONSENT audit, you’re not just checking boxes. You’re auditing against a living, human-verified database that we control, update, and stand behind.

That’s how we help you move from guesswork to confidence.

🔧 Powered by our in-house cookie database
Updated monthly. Verified by experts. Built for compliance.

 

We’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’ve used Verified CONSENT, share your feedback—or explore the tool to see the difference firsthand. You can email me direct at hello ‘@’ verified-data.com.