Does the _fbc cookie need consent?

In the EU and the UK, yes. _fbc is a marketing cookie and needs consent before it is set under the GDPR, the ePrivacy rules and PECR. Under the CCPA and CPRA, visitors can opt out of its use for cross-context behavioural advertising.

How long does the _fbc cookie last?

_fbc usually lasts 2 years. The exact lifetime depends on the site's settings and the version of the script that sets it.

Who sets the _fbc cookie?

_fbc is set by Facebook. It is in the Marketing category.

How do I block or delete the _fbc cookie?

Visitors can delete _fbc in their browser's cookie settings. On your own website, a consent banner can keep the script that sets it waiting until the visitor accepts marketing cookies. Kukie.io's banner does this for known trackers by default, and for any other script you tag with its category.

Marketing

_fbc cookie

Set by Facebook.

What it does

Facebook click identifier for conversion tracking.

Cookie name: _fbc
Category: Marketing
Provider: Facebook
Duration: 2 years
Data source: Kukie.io

Consent

Needed in the EU and the UK

_fbc is in the Marketing category. In the EU and the UK, it needs the visitor's consent before it is set. Under California's CCPA, visitors can opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal information, including for cross-context behavioural advertising.

GDPR and ePrivacy (EU): Prior consent is needed before setting _fbc. Advertising and tracking cookies are never covered by the strictly necessary exemption.
UK GDPR and PECR: Consent is needed before setting _fbc.
CCPA and CPRA (California): Setting _fbc for cross-context behavioural advertising counts as sharing personal information: offer a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" opt-out and honour the Global Privacy Control signal.

Managing _fbc with a consent banner

A consent banner can keep the script that sets _fbc waiting until the visitor accepts marketing cookies. Kukie.io's cookie scanner finds _fbc and sorts it into a category. The banner holds back known trackers by default, and any other script you tag with its category waits too.

Learn more about script blocking

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