How do third-party cookies affect user privacy?

Third-party cookies primarily affect user privacy by enabling tracking of user behavior across different websites. Unlike first-party cookies, which are created by the website a user is currently visiting and are often used for functionalities like login status or shopping cart contents, third-party cookies are set by external domains. This allows advertisers and other entities to gather data about users' browsing habits across multiple sites, creating a comprehensive profile of their interests and behaviors.

This extensive tracking capability raises significant privacy concerns, as users often have little awareness of such data collection and may not have consented to the sharing of their information with various parties. It can lead to targeted advertising, market profiling, and even the possibility of data being sold or shared without the user's knowledge. As privacy regulations become stricter in various jurisdictions, the role of third-party cookies is being scrutinized, and alternatives are being explored to enhance user privacy while still enabling advertising and analytics on the web.