The push for data privacy has exploded in recent years, with regulations such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) leading the charge. This means consumers around the globe are gaining rights regarding how their data is collected, stored, processed and sold, as well as more ways to hold companies accountable when poor data security practices lead to data breaches involving personally identifiable information (PII).

Five worthy reads is a regular column on five noteworthy items we’ve discovered while researching trending and timeless topics. This week we explore website cookies, their role in managing user identity and behavior, and the key ingredients to a safe cookie policy. There’s no worse way to enter a website than to be met with a cookie consent encounter. But how many of us click “Accept All” without much thought, just to rid ourselves of the interruption?