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Site cookies

Last updated: 24 March 2026

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small text file that is downloaded onto your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the owners of the site. This can help in providing an effective website experience and relevant content.

The rules on cookies and similar technologies are covered by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR). PECR covers the storing of information, or the gaining of access to information stored, on a user’s device.

Cookie usage

This platform uses cookies to support essential website functions and, where enabled by site owners, embedded services such as video players. Some cookies are set directly by this platform, or by embedded first-party systems we control. Others are set by third-party services embedded within pages, including YouTube/Google and Vimeo.

For third-party services, the exact cookies set may vary depending on factors such as whether you are logged in to that service, whether you have previously visited it, your browser settings, the consent choices you make, and the provider’s own technical configuration.

We group cookies into categories to help you understand why we use them. You can manage your consent preferences via our cookie consent tool or by adjusting your browser preferences.

Updates to this page

This cookie policy may be updated from time to time as functionality on the platform changes, including the introduction of additional services or user features. We will publish any material changes on this page.

1. Necessary cookies

These cookies are essential to enable the website to work correctly. You can only deactivate them by changing your browser preferences.

Login cookies

If you login, we set a cookie so that we can remember this fact. This prevents you from having to login again every time you visit a new page.
Cookie Purpose Duration
SSESS[random identifier] Drupal session identifier - used to distinguish authenticated user sessions and maintain login 8 hours
SimpleSAMLAuthToken Token for the current user’s login session Until you close your browser
SimpleSAMLSessionID Identifies the current user session for login stability Until you close your browser

2. Analytics

The platform does not currently set its own analytics cookies. However, embedded third-party video services may set cookies in these categories when video content is embedded or played.

Audio

Cookie Purpose Duration
_gat_* Google Analytics request throttling. Variable
acast-listenerid Unique Acast listener analytics identifier. Session
jwplayerLocalId Local Storage - JW Player user identifier for player analytics. Persistent

Google Maps

Cookie Purpose Duration
_utma Legacy Google Analytics visitor identifier 13 months
_utmb Session tracking 30 minutes
_utmc Session Management Session
_utmt Request throttling Variable
_utmz Session Management Variable

Miro

Cookie Purpose Duration
MiroRemoteSamplingConfig Telemetry sampling and analytics collection control. Unknown
ajs_anonymous_id Segment analytics anonymous visitor identifier. 1 year
rum_session Session storage: real user monitoring. Session

Oxford Maps / MazeMaps

Cookie Purpose Duration
_gat Request throttling Variable
mm_preferences Stores map preferences, floot selections, zoom/location settings Variable

SharePoint

Cookie Purpose Duration
MUID Microsoft device/user identifier.
ai_session Persistent analytics identifier.
ai_user Persistent analytics identifier.
fpc Microsoft telemetry correlation cookie.

Shiny/IDN

Cookie Purpose Duration
_ga Distinguishes users 2 years
_gat_gtag_UA_* Request throttling for analytics 1 minute
_gid Stores pageview/session state 24 hours

Timeline.js

Cookie Purpose Duration
_ga_LVEF* Google Analytics 4 session/measurement cookie. 13 months

Google Analytics

Cookie Purpose Duration
_ga Uniquely identify users for Google Analytics 385 Days
_ga_XXXXXXXXXX Token for the Google Analytics tag Until you close your browser

3. Functional

The platform does not currently set its own functional cookies. However, embedded third-party video services may set cookies in these categories when video content is embedded or played.

Audio

Cookie Purpose Duration
Drupal.olivero.stickyHeaderState Local Storage - stores whether the player header is expanded or collapsed. Variable
cf_clearance Cloudflare security/challenge validation. Variable
cookie-agreed-version Stores version of accepted cookie policy. Variable
geo Stores Apple Podcasts region or country preference. Session

Google Maps

Cookie Purpose Duration
GRECAPTCHA Bot detection and abuse prevention Several months
NID Google preference, used for language, interface setting and map preferences 6 months
google.maps.eventPage Local Storage: Map state storage Variable
rc::f:* Local Storage – reCAPTCHA anti-bot token No built in expiry

Miro

Cookie Purpose Duration
ajs_user_id User identifier. 1 year
cx-fingerprint Local storage: session continuity, fraud prevention and platform operation. No built-in expiry
lastKnownOrgId Last organisation accessed. Session
lastVisitedStartViewKey Local storage: dashboard state and widget identifiers. No built-in expiry
mr-anon-id-1 Anonymous user identifier. 1 year
rb_view-* Local storage: UI state and window dimensions. No built-in expiry
rtb_saved_dashboard Local storage: current dashboard state, selected project and recent workspace information. No built-in expiry
token Authentication/security token. 1 year
userLocale Language preference. Session
what-intent Session storage: mouse, keyboard or touch interaction intent. Session

Oxford Maps / MazeMaps

Cookie Purpose Duration
mazemap_session Maintains interactive map session state Session
mm_route Stores routing/navigation state Session/Persistent

Panopto

Cookie Purpose Duration
Panopto.UserSettings[anonymous] Local Storage – caption preference Variable
UserSettings Stores player/user settings 10 - 12 Months

SharePoint

Cookie Purpose Duration
WSS_FullScreenMode Stores SharePoint viewer/display preferences.

Shiny/IDN

Cookie Purpose Duration
AWSALB Load balancer session affinity Variable
__cf_bm Cloudflare bot protection Variable
rsconnect Session persistence Variable
shinyapps.io Maintains active Shiny session state Session

4. Marketing

The platform does not currently set its own marketing cookies. However, embedded third-party video services may set cookies in these categories when video content is embedded or played.

Google Maps

Cookie Purpose Duration
rc::a Local Storage – reCAPTCHA state token No built in expiry

5. Video

Sites on this platform may embed videos from YouTube/Google and Vimeo. These services set cookies to enable the video player to work, track views, and personalise advertising.

Note: If you are logged into a YouTube, Google or Vimeo account, these providers may link your viewing activity on this site to your account. This occurs via cookies already stored in your browser from those services.

SharePoint

Cookie Purpose Duration
ESTSAUTH Microsoft Entra ID authentication token. Session
ESTSAUTHPERSISTENT Persistent Microsoft login state.
FedAuth SharePoint federated authentication cookie.
SPOIDCRL SharePoint Online identity/session state.
Stsservicecookie Microsoft service routing/session management.
odspnonce Security/session nonce.
rtFa Stores reading progress, UI SharePoint federated session token.
x-ms-gateway-slice Microsoft traffic routing/load balancing.

Vimeo

Cookie Purpose Duration
COOKIE_ID_PICOX_ID Functional: Manages session state/player performance. 365 days
_cf_bm Necessary: Cloudflare cookie used to support Vimeo's bot management and security. 30 mins
_cfuvid Necessary: Cloudflare Rate-limiting / DDoS protection. Until you close your browser
cf_clearance Necessary: Proof of ‘human’ verification (Captcha). 365 days
player Functional: Stores the user's player preferences (e.g. volume level, captions setting). 365 days
vuid Analytics: Primary analytics cookie used to track video views. 365 days
For more information, see Vimeo Cookie Policy and Vimeo Player Cookies.

Youtube

Cookie Purpose Duration
AEC Security: Detects spam, fraud, and abuse. 180 days
CONSENT Necessary: Stores universal Google consent preferences. 730 days
NID Marketing: Remembers preferences and personalises ads for signed-out users. 180 days
OGP / OGPC Functional: Stores user settings and enables Google product functionality. 30 days
SAPISID, APISID, SSID Marketing: Used to personalise advertising based on user activity and interests. 400 days
SID / HSID Security: Encrypted account records used for security and authentication. 400 days
SIDCC, __Secure-1PSIDCC, __Secure-3PSIDCC Security: Protect user data from unauthorised access. 365 days
SOCS Necessary: Stores user's cookie consent state. 395 days
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE Functional/Analytics: bandwidth estimation for video quality/tracking of user behaviour and unique visitors 180 days
VISITOR_PRIVACY_METADATA Necessary: Stores consent state for the current domain. 180 days
YSC Analytics: video view statistics Until you close your browser
__Secure-1PSID, __Secure-3PSID, __Secure-1PAPISID, __Secure-3PAPISID Marketing: Used to profile visitor interests for ad personalisation and targeting across services. 400 days
__Secure-1PSIDTS, __Secure-3PSIDTS Marketing: Collects and tracks information about interactions with Google ads. 365 days
__Secure-ENID Functional: Remember preferences and security information. 400 days
For more information, see How Google uses cookies and Cookie information for Google’s ad products.

Managing Your Preferences

You can adjust which non-essential cookies you allow by clicking on the ‘Set cookie preferences’ (‘C’ icon) button at the bottom of every page. You can then adjust the available sliders to ‘On’ or ‘Off’, then click ‘X’ to close. You may need to refresh your page for your settings to take effect.

It is also possible to prevent the setting of cookies by adjusting your browser settings. Be aware that doing this may affect the functionality of other websites that you visit. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides information on browser controls and where to find instructions for controlling cookies in different browsers. Please see the section on browser cookie settings at the end of the Cookies page on the ICO website.

Contact

If you have any queries or concerns about the use of cookies on this website, please contact our Fresco Service team.

 

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Social Sciences Departments

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Oxford School of Global and Area Studies

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Department of International Development

Oxford Internet Institute

Faculty of Law

Department of Politics and International Relations

Department of Social Policy and Intervention

Department of Sociology

The Oxford Martin School

 

 

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