United Kingdom: Information Commissioner’s Office announced inquiry into cookie compliance across top 1,000 websites in United Kingdom

On 23 January 2025, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced plans to bring the UK’s top 1,000 websites into compliance with data protection regulations. Building on its review of the top 200 websites, where 134 organisations were found to require improvements, the ICO will now assess the compliance of a wider range of websites. Organisations must ensure users have meaningful control over how their personal information is tracked. They should also provide guidance on privacy-friendly business models and practices, including ‘consent or pay’ models. The inquiry aims to address harmful tracking practices and strengthen user privacy across online platforms.