What is the _cc_dc cookie?
Stores an indicator that identifies the data center a profile originated in, supporting global data synchronization and targeted advertising operations.
Table of Contents
About the _cc_dc cookie
| Vendor | Lotame |
|---|---|
| Cookie Domain | crwdcntrl.net |
| Category Category The functional category of the technology, such as Web Analytics or Social Media. Learn more | Data Management (DMP) |
| Consent Category Consent Category The consent category this cookie most commonly falls under across sites we scan, normalized into four standard categories. Learn more | Targeting & Advertising |
| Prevalence | Very Common |
| Popularity Popularity Popularity is calculated from our dataset of 4.5B+ cookies analyzed across hundreds of millions of web pages. Learn more | Found on 13.2% of scanned pages |
| Expiration Type | Timestamp |
| Expiration Duration | 25 days |
| Party Type Party Type Whether the cookie is first-party or third-party. Learn more | 3rd-Party |
| Risk Level Risk Level Rates how sensitive the data stored by this cookie is (High, Medium, or Low) based on data classification and distribution. Learn more | Medium |
| Vendor Privacy Policy | https://www.lotame.com/about-lotame/privacy/ |
| Vendor Website | https://www.lotame.com/ |
What is the purpose of the _cc_dc cookie?
The _cc_dc cookie is a third-party tracking cookie set by Lotame (acquired by Publicis Groupe in 2025) via the crwdcntrl.net domain. Its primary technical function is to store a data center indicator that specifies the geographic or infrastructure origin of a user's profile during cross-network tracking operations. This facilitates efficient data routing and synchronization across Lotame's international environments.
Lotame leverages this cookie alongside other identifiers (such as _cc_id and _cc_aud) to collect statistical and behavioral data across various websites. The data collected includes page views, average time spent on site, and browsing habits, which are compiled into detailed user profiles using identity resolution techniques. Advertisers and publishers then use these profiles through the Lotame data exchange network to segment audiences, deliver personalized advertisements, and perform cross-site tracking.
What are the Privacy Risks of the _cc_dc cookie?
Risk Level: Medium
This cookie captures pseudonymous behavioral patterns and geographic origin markers that are used for audience segmentation and cross-site tracking. While it primarily stores a data center indicator rather than direct Personally Identifiable Information (PII), it operates as part of Lotame's broader identity resolution network. This allows disparate data points and web browsing habits to be aggregated into comprehensive user profiles used for targeted advertising, posing a moderate privacy risk to end users.
How to Remove the _cc_dc cookie from a Website
Website administrators can remove this cookie by eliminating the Lotame tags, scripts, or tracking pixels from the site's source code or Tag Management System (e.g., Google Tag Manager). If Lotame's data management capabilities are required but administrators want to restrict this specific cookie, they must consult Lotame's platform settings or contact their account manager to adjust geographic targeting configurations or data collection features that trigger the data center cookie. If Lotame is loaded indirectly through a programmatic ad exchange or supply-side platform (SSP), administrators may need to block Lotame as a third-party data provider within their primary ad server configuration.