Why We Don't Use Cookies: A Conscious Privacy Choice
The Cookie Paradox
Visit almost any website today and you're greeted not by content, but by a cookie consent banner. These popups have become so ubiquitous that users mindlessly click "Accept All" just to access the content they came for. This raises a fundamental question: If everyone just accepts, what's the point?
At WPTR, we asked ourselves a different question: What if we simply didn't need cookies in the first place?
WPTR: A Global Project, A Conscious Choice
WPTR is a global project serving users from all around the world. The European Union's ePrivacy Directive (and the upcoming ePrivacy Regulation) makes cookie consent mandatory for websites targeting EU users. This means any site using tracking or analytics cookies must display a consent banner.
Rather than implementing complex consent management systems, we made a fundamental design choice: we simply don't use technologies that would require a consent banner. This isn't just about legal compliance—it's about respecting user privacy as a core principle.
📋 Official EU Cookie Regulations
- EU ePrivacy Regulation - European Commission
- EU Data Protection Laws (GDPR) - European Commission
- GDPR Guidelines - European Data Protection Board
What We Actually Store (Almost Nothing)
Let's be completely transparent about our technical implementation:
🔒 WPTR Privacy Stack
| Storage Type | What We Store | Cookie Consent Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Cookies | None | ❌ No |
| localStorage | UI preferences only (collapsed panels) | ❌ No |
| Third-party Tracking | None (no Google Analytics) | ❌ No |
| Fingerprinting | None | ❌ No |
Why Most Websites Use Cookies
Understanding why cookies became so prevalent helps explain our alternative approach:
- Analytics: Tracking user behavior, page views, and session duration (Google Analytics, Hotjar, etc.)
- Advertising: Retargeting users with personalized ads across the web
- User Preferences: Remembering language, theme, and settings
- Authentication: Keeping users logged in
At WPTR, we don't run ads, we don't need to track your behavior, and our public tools don't require login. This eliminates the primary reasons for cookie usage.
The Legal Landscape: GDPR & Beyond
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and similar laws worldwide (like Turkey's KVKK) require websites to:
- Inform users about cookie usage
- Obtain explicit consent before setting non-essential cookies
- Provide granular control over cookie categories
- Allow users to withdraw consent at any time
By not using tracking cookies, we're not just avoiding legal complexity—we're respecting user privacy by design.
localStorage vs. Cookies: The Technical Difference
Some might ask: "But you mentioned localStorage—isn't that the same thing?"
No, and here's why the distinction matters:
Cookie vs localStorage
| Feature | Cookies | localStorage |
|---|---|---|
| Sent to Server | Yes (every request) | No (client-only) |
| Cross-site Tracking | Possible | Impossible |
| Third-party Access | Yes (via third-party cookies) | No (same-origin only) |
| GDPR Consent Needed | Usually yes | Usually no* |
*localStorage for essential functionality (like remembering UI state) generally doesn't require consent under GDPR, as it falls under "strictly necessary" exceptions.
Our Philosophy: Minimalism Over Surveillance
This approach aligns with our broader engineering philosophy at WPTR:
"The best code is no code. The best tracking is no tracking. Build tools that respect users, not exploit them."
We believe the web has become bloated with surveillance capitalism. Every free service comes with the hidden cost of your personal data. We chose a different path:
- No ads = No need to track you for advertisers
- No user accounts (for public tools) = No need to store session cookies
- Server-side rendering = No client-side hydration tracking
- Edge deployment = Logs are ephemeral, not stored for profiling
What This Means for You
When you visit WPTR:
- ✅ No consent banner blocking your view
- ✅ Faster page loads (no third-party script overhead)
- ✅ True privacy (we literally can't track you)
- ✅ No ad retargeting following you around the web
Looking Ahead: This Policy May Evolve
📢 Future Policy Notice
While our current approach is to avoid cookie technology entirely, this policy may change in the future as our platform evolves. If we ever need to implement analytics or features that require cookies, we will:
- • Update this page and our Cookie Policy immediately
- • Implement a proper consent management system
- • Comply fully with EU ePrivacy Directive, GDPR, KVKK, and all applicable regulations
- • Give users complete control over their data
Last reviewed: January 7, 2026
The Future: Privacy as a Feature
As browsers increasingly block third-party cookies and users become more privacy-conscious, we believe our approach will become the standard, not the exception.
Companies that built their businesses on surveillance will need to adapt. We're already there.
Privacy isn't a checkbox to be ticked—it's a design decision to be made from day one.
Welcome to a cookie-free corner of the internet.
WPTR Team