Auditing Web Trackers with the EDPB's Open-Source Website Compliance Tool

The European regulations impose strict rules on the collection and use of data via cookies and other trackers on websites. Auditing the practices of these sites is crucial to ensure that the cookies placed, both before and after user consent, comply with current legal obligations. This includes the purpose of the cookies and the transparency of the information provided to users, such as cookie descriptions and an easily accessible refusal option.

Although various website analysis tools exist, their use often requires advanced technical expertise, as they typically operate via command-line interfaces. In this context, the EDPB, through the Support Pool of Experts (SPE), has developed a dedicated audit tool to assess websites' compliance with European regulatory requirements.

The tool is a Free and Open Source Software under the EUPL 1.2 Licence and is available for download on code.europa.eu. The source code is available here.

Dr. Jérôme Gorin, researcher at UniLaSalle, and Dr. Amandine Jambert, technology expert at EDPB Secretariat, will present its functionality and its adoption by numerous auditors within data protection authorities across Europe. The presentation will conclude with a discussion on the tool's improvement prospects, aiming to foster knowledge sharing and the detection of the latest online tracking technologies.