Sam Page
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Website cookie fines (£17.5 million in the UK) can feel restrictive.

People and behaviour2 min readSam Page

But there are five exemptions that allow you to keep working.

To be honest seeing those numbers in the new Data Use and Access Act made me pause. It feels like another thing designed to catch companies out!

Marketing and digital leaders are under so much pressure right now. You have to deliver commercial objectives and drive growth. But you also have to navigate this maze of compliance without tripping up.

I think it's why it's easy for it to feel like a choice. Either track everything to try and prove value, or respect privacy and lose insight.

But it's not that binary.

James Flint wrote this great piece for 7DOTS.

He breaks down how the new rules have five exemptions.
They are not loopholes they are just sensible ways to keep working.

To use digital to help people and your business, not track them for the sake of tracking.

Take a look at James’s thinking on this. It might help you stop worrying about the fine and focus on what needs to be done and who you are serving.

If you need a hand, we're here to guide you and ensure you are compliant.

Link in the comments.

I’m Sam, I sit at the intersection of business, digital, and people, helping leaders use technology to deliver commercial objectives with a positive human impact.

I share insights on compassionate leadership, neurodiversity, and how to move customers from interest to action.

At 7DOTS we help considered-purchase brands navigate digital complexity, establish clarity, and grow with confidence.

First published on LinkedIn.

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GEThttps://sam-page.com/thinking/website-cookie-fines-17-5-million-in-the-uk-can-feel-restrictive.mdtext/markdown; charset=utf-8

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title: "Website cookie fines (£17.5 million in the UK) can feel restrictive."
url: https://sam-page.com/thinking/website-cookie-fines-17-5-million-in-the-uk-can-feel-restrictive
date: 2026-01-07
author: Sam Page
type: Post or article
categories: [People and behaviour, Founder life and leadership]
reading_time: 2 min
summary: "But there are five exemptions that allow you to keep working."
first_published: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn%3Ali%3Ashare%3A7414584545502523393
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# Website cookie fines (£17.5 million in the UK) can feel restrictive.

But there are five exemptions that allow you to keep working.

![](https://sam-page.com/img/thinking/website-cookie-fines-17-5-million-in-the-uk-can-feel-restrictive-li1.webp)

To be honest seeing those numbers in the new Data Use and Access Act made me pause. It feels like another thing designed to catch companies out!

Marketing and digital leaders are under so much pressure right now. You have to deliver commercial objectives and drive growth. But you also have to navigate this maze of compliance without tripping up.

I think it's why it's easy for it to feel like a choice. Either track everything to try and prove value, or respect privacy and lose insight.

But it's not that binary.

James Flint wrote this great piece for 7DOTS.

He breaks down how the new rules have five exemptions.  
They are not loopholes they are just sensible ways to keep working.

To use digital to help people and your business, not track them for the sake of tracking.

Take a look at James’s thinking on this. It might help you stop worrying about the fine and focus on what needs to be done and who you are serving.

If you need a hand, we're here to guide you and ensure you are compliant.

Link in the comments.

---

I’m Sam, I sit at the intersection of business, digital, and people, helping leaders use technology to deliver commercial objectives with a positive human impact.

I share insights on compassionate leadership, neurodiversity, and how to move customers from interest to action.

At 7DOTS we help considered-purchase brands navigate digital complexity, establish clarity, and grow with confidence.