Does the lastExternalReferrer cookie need consent?

In the EU and the UK, yes. lastExternalReferrer 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.

Who sets the lastExternalReferrer cookie?

lastExternalReferrer is set by Meta Pixel, from Meta Platforms. It is in the Marketing category.

How do I block or delete the lastExternalReferrer cookie?

Visitors can delete lastExternalReferrer 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

lastExternalReferrer cookie

Set by Meta Pixel.

What it does

Detects how the user reached the website by registering their last URL-address.

Cookie name: lastExternalReferrer
Category: Marketing
Provider: Meta Pixel
Vendor: Meta Platforms

Consent

Needed in the EU and the UK

lastExternalReferrer 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 lastExternalReferrer. Advertising and tracking cookies are never covered by the strictly necessary exemption.
UK GDPR and PECR: Consent is needed before setting lastExternalReferrer.
CCPA and CPRA (California): Setting lastExternalReferrer 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 lastExternalReferrer with a consent banner

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