Does the _gat_ cookie need consent?

In the EU and the UK, yes. _gat_ is an analytics cookie, so it may be set only after the visitor agrees. Under the CCPA, California residents can opt out if the data is sold or shared.

Who sets the _gat_ cookie?

_gat_ is set by Google Analytics, from Google LLC. It is in the Analytics category.

How do I block or delete the _gat_ cookie?

Visitors can delete _gat_ 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 analytics cookies. Kukie.io's banner does this for known trackers by default, and for any other script you tag with its category.

Analytics

_gat_ cookie

Set by Google Analytics.

_gat_*

What it does

Used by Google Analytics to throttle request rate (limit the collection of data on high traffic sites)

Cookie name: _gat_
Category: Analytics
Provider: Google Analytics
Vendor: Google LLC

Consent

Needed in the EU and the UK

_gat_ is in the Analytics category. In the EU and the UK, analytics cookies need the visitor's consent before they are set. California's CCPA works differently: it lets residents opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal information.

GDPR and ePrivacy (EU): Prior consent is needed before setting _gat_. Analytics cookies are not covered by the strictly necessary exemption; only a few regulators (for example France's CNIL) allow a narrow exemption for first-party audience measurement under strict conditions.
UK GDPR and PECR: Consent is needed before setting _gat_. The ICO treats analytics cookies as non-essential.
CCPA and CPRA (California): Disclose _gat_ in your privacy policy and honour opt-out requests, including the Global Privacy Control signal, if the analytics data is shared or sold.

Managing _gat_ with a consent banner

A consent banner can keep the script that sets _gat_ waiting until the visitor accepts analytics cookies. Kukie.io's cookie scanner finds _gat_ 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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