What is the GED_PLAYLIST_ACTIVITY cookie?
GED_PLAYLIST_ACTIVITY is an HTTP cookie set by Google domains, most commonly in the context of embedded video content (for example, a YouTube player integrated on a website). It appears when a visitor interacts with a video player or playlist that runs Google scripts.
As a session cookie, it is created when the page with the video content is loaded and expires automatically when the browser is closed, meaning it is not stored permanently on the device.
What data it stores
The cookie retains technical information related to viewing activity during the current session, such as interactions with the displayed playlist or video player. Google does not publish detailed documentation on the exact value format, so the internal structure of the stored data varies and cannot be described precisely.
Data associated with this cookie is sent to Google's servers, used for the video player's functionality and, potentially, for analytics related to the content watched.
What it is used for
The main purpose is to support the functioning of Google video players (e.g. YouTube) embedded on third-party websites, allowing viewing activity to be tracked within the current session.
From the embedding website's perspective, this cookie indirectly contributes to measuring user engagement with video material, information that can feed into marketing strategies and content optimization.
Does it require consent?
In CookieFix's classification, GED_PLAYLIST_ACTIVITY falls under the marketing category (advertising/tracking). Under the ePrivacy Directive (transposed in Romania via Law 506/2004) and the GDPR, cookies in this category are not strictly necessary for the website's operation, so they require the visitor's prior, informed consent before being set.
- The website operator must declare this cookie in the cookie policy, including provider, category, and duration.
- The script that loads the video player (and implicitly this cookie) must be blocked until consent is given.
- Refusing consent must not block access to the rest of the site's content.
How to block or delete GED_PLAYLIST_ACTIVITY
A visitor can delete or block this cookie via browser settings (per-site cookie management) or by using dedicated extensions that block Google tracking scripts. Session cookies are automatically cleared when the browser is closed anyway.
For website operators, blocking it automatically before consent is legally essential. A CMP platform like CookieFix can prevent the video player script (and its associated cookies, including GED_PLAYLIST_ACTIVITY) from loading until the visitor grants consent for the marketing category.
Frequently asked questions
It's a session HTTP cookie set by Google, related to user interaction with embedded video content or playlists on a website.
Yes, since it is classified as marketing, it requires the visitor's prior consent under the GDPR and Romania's Law 506/2004.
It is a session cookie, so it is automatically deleted when the visitor closes their browser.
By using a CMP that prevents the associated video script from loading until consent is obtained for the marketing category.