Cookies identify your browser and let Visa recognize you when you return
Visa explains that cookies are small text files that websites send to a computer or other Internet-connected device to uniquely identify the browser or to store information or settings in it. Cookies let Visa recognize a returning visitor, help provide a customized experience, and can help detect certain kinds of fraud.
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Supporting quotations
Cookies are small text files that websites send to your computer or other Internet-connected devices to uniquely identify your browser or to store information or settings in your browser. Cookies allow us to recognize you when you return. They also help us provide a customized experience and can enable us to detect certain kinds of fraud.
Qualifications & exceptions
Fraud detection is described as something cookies “can enable,” not as a guarantee.
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The page also links the word “cookies” to an external cookie report page (policy.cookiereports.com); that page's contents are not part of this document.
First-party cookies include all of Visa's strictly necessary cookies
Visa defines first-party cookies as cookies placed by Visa or otherwise generated by a domain that is visited directly, and gives a social media platform as an example. It says these cookies are used by Visa and include all the strictly necessary cookies that support the basic operations of its websites and apps.
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First-party cookies are those cookies that are placed by Visa or otherwise generated by a domain that is visited directly, such as a social media platform. These cookies are used by Visa and include all the strictly necessary cookies that support the basic operations of our websites and apps.
Qualifications & exceptions
The definition also covers cookies “otherwise generated by a domain that is visited directly, such as a social media platform,” so not every first-party cookie is placed by Visa.
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The wording does not explain how Visa uses a cookie generated by a social media platform's own domain; it only places such cookies inside the first-party definition.
Pixel tags tell Visa when you view a page or open an email
Pixel tags (also called web beacons) are tiny graphic images and small blocks of code placed on website pages, ads or emails. When you access the page or open the email, the tag lets Visa know. Visa says it uses these tools to measure the response to its communications and to improve its web pages and promotions.
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Pixel tags (also called web beacons) are tiny graphic images and small blocks of code placed on website pages, ads, or in emails that allow us to determine whether you have performed a specific action. When you access the pages or you open an email, the tag lets us know you have accessed the web page or opened the email. These tools allow us to measure response to our communications and improve our web pages and promotions.
Qualifications & exceptions
Placed on website pages, ads or emails.
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Which pages, ads or emails carry pixel tags is not specified.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Server logs record device, browser, location and IP address details
Server logs on Visa's websites record activity, and the notice says other types of logs collect similar information from its apps. The logs record information about the device used to access the site (operating system type, browser type, domain and other system settings), the system language, and the country and time zone where the device is located. They also record the IP address of the device. Visa may also collect the website you were visiting before you came to Visa and the website you visit after you leave.
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Server logs record activities on our websites. Other types of logs collect similar information from our apps. These logs record information about the device you use to access our website, your operating system type, browser type, domain, and other system settings, as well as the language your system uses and the country and time zone where your device is located. Our logs also record the IP address of the device you use to connect to the Internet. An IP address is a unique identifier that devices require to identify and communicate with each other on the Internet. We may also collect information about the website you were visiting before you came to Visa and the website you visit after you leave our site.
Qualifications & exceptions
Collecting the websites visited before and after is stated with “may”; the other items are stated as recorded.
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The notice does not say how long log data is kept.
Visa uses cookies and other online data collection tools for many purposes
The notice introduces its list of cookie and tag categories by saying Visa uses cookies and other online data collection tools for “several many different purposes.” The wording “several many” is reproduced as written and gives no number.
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Supporting quotations
We use cookies and other online data collection tools for several many different purposes.
Qualifications & exceptions
The sentence covers “cookies and other online data collection tools,” not only cookies.
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The number of purposes is not given; the wording “several many” is unclear.
Data Access & Collection · Company practice
Strictly necessary cookies and tags support core site functions
Visa uses strictly necessary cookies and tags to support the basic operations of its websites and apps, such as authentication, security, network management and accessibility. The notice says you may be able to disable these by changing your browser settings, but that this may affect how the website functions. The banner and Cookie Preferences choice described under Your choices is described as being for cookies “that are not strictly necessary to display our website.”
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Strictly necessary cookies and tags are used by Visa to support the basic operations of our websites and apps. They enable core website functions, such as authentication, security, network management, and accessibility. You may be able to disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.
manage cookies that are not strictly necessary to display our website, by clicking on the banner that appears upon first accessing the site or accessing the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the Visa website you are interacting with. Many Visa websites only place marketing, personalization, and advertising cookies if you explicitly accept these cookies by clicking “Accept All Cookies” when you first visit the website. If you have accepted cookies, you may adjust your preferences by accessing the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the Visa website you are interacting with.
Qualifications & exceptions
You “may be able to” disable them in browser settings, which “may affect how the website functions.”
The banner and Cookie Preferences choice is described for websites in certain countries.
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The notice does not say whether any control other than browser settings exists for strictly necessary cookies.
Analytics cookies: on by default in some countries, off by default where required
Analytics cookies and tags measure aggregate website visitor activity so Visa can optimize content. The notice says they are treated as a separate category only in certain countries where they may be “on” by default, and that you can turn them off at your option. Otherwise they fall under the “performance and operation” category and will be “off” by default where required, such as in the UK/EU.
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Analytics cookies and tags are used to measure aggregate website visitor activity, allowing Visa to optimize content. These are only treated as a separate category of cookies in certain countries where these cookies may be “on” by default (allowing you to turn them off at your option). Otherwise these cookies are categorized under the “performance and operation” category listed below and will be “off” by default where required (such as in the UK/EU).
Qualifications & exceptions
A separate category only in certain countries where they may be on by default.
Off by default “where required (such as in the UK/EU).”
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The countries where analytics cookies are on by default, and the places where off-by-default is required beyond the UK/EU example, are not listed.
Performance and operation cookies manage the site and gather usage data
Visa and its service providers use performance and operation cookies and tags to manage Visa's websites. These activities may include collecting analytics about visitors and information about website usage. Visa uses the information to compile reports and help improve the website.
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Performance and operation cookies and tags are used by us and our service providers to manage our websites. These activities may include collecting analytics about visitors to our website and collecting information about website usage. We use the information to compile reports and to help us improve the website. These cookies help us gather data to optimize our website’s performance.
Qualifications & exceptions
Used by Visa and its service providers.
The activities “may include” analytics and usage information; the list is not stated as complete.
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Which service providers are involved is not stated.
A banner and Cookie Preferences link let you manage non-essential cookies in some countries
For websites in certain countries, Visa lets you manage cookies that are not strictly necessary to display its website, using the banner shown when you first access the site or the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the Visa website. If you have accepted cookies, you may adjust your preferences through that Cookie Preferences link.
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For websites in certain countries, Visa provides you with the ability to manage cookies that are not strictly necessary to display our website, by clicking on the banner that appears upon first accessing the site or accessing the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the Visa website you are interacting with.
If you have accepted cookies, you may adjust your preferences by accessing the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the Visa website you are interacting with.
Qualifications & exceptions
Only for websites in certain countries.
Covers cookies that are not strictly necessary to display the website.
Adjusting preferences through the link is described for people who have accepted cookies.
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The countries and websites where the banner or link is offered are not listed.
Many Visa websites place marketing and advertising cookies only after you accept
The notice says many Visa websites place marketing, personalization and advertising cookies only if you explicitly accept them by clicking “Accept All Cookies” when you first visit the website.
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Supporting quotations
Many Visa websites only place marketing, personalization, and advertising cookies if you explicitly accept these cookies by clicking “Accept All Cookies” when you first visit the website.
Qualifications & exceptions
Stated for “many” Visa websites, and tied to clicking “Accept All Cookies” on the first visit.
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Which websites do not wait for acceptance is not stated.
Browser settings can manage or delete cookies, but not Flash or Silverlight cookies
You can manage and delete cookies from Visa and other companies using your browser settings. The notice says browsers such as Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari let you accept, reject or delete cookies, and refers you to each browser's help center. It adds that browser settings are not used to manage Flash or Silverlight cookies, which are handled through the Flash Player help page and Microsoft's privacy statement.
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You can manage cookies and delete cookies from Visa and other companies using your browser settings. Browsers such as Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari give you the ability to accept, reject, or delete cookies. Visit the “help center” for your browser to learn more. Please note that your browser settings are not used to manage Flash or Silverlight cookies. To manage Adobe Flash Cookies, visit the Flash Player help page. To manage Microsoft Silverlight Cookies, visit the Silverlight section of Microsoft’s privacy statement.
Qualifications & exceptions
Browser settings do not manage Flash or Silverlight cookies.
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The browser help centers, the Flash Player help page and Microsoft's privacy statement are not part of this document.
Industry-sponsored opt-out programs include the Network Advertising Initiative
Visa says you can use industry-sponsored programs that let you control the way companies advertise to you. It says the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) manages an opt-out program for many third-party advertising companies, and that you can opt out of being targeted by NAI members by visiting an address that the page shows as https://thenai.org/opt-out/.
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You can also take advantage of industry-sponsored programs that allow you to control the way companies advertise to you.
The Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) manages an opt-out program for many third-party advertising companies. You can opt out of being targeted by NAI members by visiting
The NAI program covers “many” third-party advertising companies, and opting out is described as applying to targeting by NAI members.
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The address appears in a separate block after the next sentence, so the notice text does not itself tie it to the “by visiting” sentence beyond layout; what the address leads to is not part of this document.
AdChoices icon and further advertising-choice information
On some websites you may see an AdChoices icon, which may appear on certain targeted ads. Visa says you may click it to learn more about the collection and use of your information or to opt out of such collection in the future, and points to the Digital Advertising Alliance Consumer Choice tool. It also says additional information on cookies and online advertising choices is offered by a site whose address the page shows as https://optout.aboutads.info.
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On some websites, you may see an AdChoices icon, which may appear on certain targeted ads. You may click on this AdChoices icon to learn more information about the collection and use of your information or to opt-out of such collection in the future. To learn more about the Digital Advertising Alliance Consumer Choice tool, please visit
Additional information on cookies and online advertising choices are offered by:
The icon appears on some websites and certain targeted ads only.
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The AdChoices sentence ends with “please visit” and the notice does not say which address follows it; the contents of the Consumer Choice tool and the listed address are not part of this document.
Data Access & Collection · Restriction or exception
Choices are usually tied to a browser, and opting out may not remove all ads
The notice says that in most cases the choices you make are linked to your browser, so if you use different browsers or devices you need to set your preferences on each one. It adds that even if you opt out, you may still receive ads that are not customized for you, unrelated to your browser settings.
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In most cases, the choices you make are linked to your browser. If you use different browsers or different devices, you will need to set your preferences on each one. Even if you opt-out, you may still receive ads that are not customized for you, unrelated to your browser settings.
Qualifications & exceptions
“In most cases” the choices are tied to a browser; the notice does not say always.
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The notice does not say which choices are not tied to a browser.
Visa websites do not currently recognize Do Not Track browser signals
Visa says its websites currently do not have a mechanism to recognize the various web browser Do Not Track signals. It says it instead offers customers choices to manage their cookie preferences as described in the notice, and points to https://www.allaboutdnt.com to learn more about browser tracking signals.
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Supporting quotations
Although our websites currently do not have a mechanism to recognize the various web browser Do Not Track signals, we do offer our customers choices to manage their cookie preferences as described above.