The term “cookie banner” refers to a banner, or splash page, deployed on a website to inform visitors that the website uses cookies, and other online tracking technologies. Some cookie banners also give website visitors choices with respect to whether tracking technologies are, or are not, used, including via cookie “opt-in” or “opt-out” user controls.

A review of the websites of the companies listed in the Fortune 500 conducted in the first quarter of 2020 found that 28% of the companies were using a cookie banner to website visitors with a California IP address. The review of was replicated in the fourth quarter of 2020 and found that, at that time, 35% of companies utilized a cookie banner. As a result, there appears to have been a 7% rise in the number of companies that utilize cookie banners in 2020. [1]

[1] Websites of each company were reviewed during the first quarter of 2020 from an IP address associated with Los Angeles, California, using Chrome for iOS Version 79.0.3945.88 (official build) (64 bit). Advertising cookies were identified using Ghostery for Chrome Version 8.4.4. In situations in which a Fortune 500 company was a holding company that did not operate a significant website, the website of one of the holding company’s operating units was examined.