> Smart Slider 3 and GDPR: the plugin is cookieless by default. Understand when YouTube, Vimeo or Google Fonts embeds require consent and how to comply. > > Canonical: https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/smart-slider-3 CMS # Smart Slider 3 Unclassified · [Official website](https://smartslider3.com) Smart Slider 3 is a popular WordPress and Joomla slider and presentation plugin developed by Nextend. The plugin itself is fully cookieless: it renders image and content sliders entirely client-side and does not set any tracking or functional cookies. Privacy risk is low for the plugin alone. However, if slides embed YouTube or Vimeo videos, or if the plugin loads Google Fonts, those third-party services introduce cookies, data transfers to the US, and consent requirements of their own. GDPR compliance is simple when using only local media, but requires a consent-gated embed strategy when external media providers are involved. [Block Smart Slider 3 until consent](https://app.flowconsent.com/auth/sign-up?utm_source=flowconsent.com\&utm_medium=referral\&utm_campaign=cms) · [Scan my site](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/scan) At a glance - Category [CMS](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms) - Consent Unclassified - Prior consent Not required - Documented cookies 3 - Third-party domains 4 - Servers N/A (client-side plugin; third-party embed servers: US for YouTube/Vimeo/Google Fonts) Overview ## What does Smart Slider 3 do? ## **What is Smart Slider 3?** Smart Slider 3 is a slider and visual presentation plugin for WordPress and Joomla, developed by Nextend. It enables website owners to create image sliders, hero sections, carousels and full-page presentations using a drag-and-drop editor. Smart Slider 3 is available in a free version and a paid Pro version with additional features. The plugin is widely used across millions of WordPress installations and is compatible with major page builders such as Elementor, Gutenberg, and Divi. ## **Privacy by default: the plugin is cookieless** Smart Slider 3 itself does not set any cookies. The plugin renders sliders entirely client-side using JavaScript, CSS and locally hosted images or media. It may use browser local storage to preserve minor UI state (such as the last-viewed slide), but this does not constitute personal data processing that requires consent under the ePrivacy Directive. For websites using only local media in their sliders, Smart Slider 3 is fully cookieless and requires no cookie notice entry or user consent for the plugin itself. ## **When third-party embeds introduce compliance obligations** Smart Slider 3 supports embedding YouTube and Vimeo videos directly within slides. When a YouTube or Vimeo video is embedded (even in the standard iframe embed format), the respective provider loads scripts and sets cookies from their own domains (www\.youtube.com or player.vimeo.com) as soon as the slide page loads, before the visitor plays the video. These cookies are non-essential marketing and analytics cookies that require prior informed consent under the ePrivacy Directive. Both YouTube and Vimeo transfer data to servers in the United States, triggering GDPR Chapter V transfer obligations. Similarly, if Smart Slider 3 is configured to load Google Fonts from Google's CDN (fonts.googleapis.com, fonts.gstatic.com) rather than from locally hosted font files, this creates a data transfer to the US that requires a legal basis. ## **Practical compliance for embedded media** To use Smart Slider 3 compliantly with embedded videos: use a consent-gated video embed approach where the video iframe is replaced by a static thumbnail until the user clicks to play or accepts video cookies via your CMP. For YouTube specifically, using the youtube-nocookie.com embed domain instead of youtube.com significantly reduces (but does not eliminate) cookie and tracking exposure. For Vimeo, similar privacy-enhanced embed options are available. For Google Fonts, the simplest compliance solution is to self-host the font files on your own server, removing the external CDN call entirely. ## **What to disclose in your cookie and privacy policy** If your Smart Slider 3 sliders embed YouTube or Vimeo videos, or load Google Fonts externally, you must disclose this in your cookie notice and privacy policy. List each third-party provider (YouTube/Google LLC, Vimeo, Inc.) under the relevant consent category (typically Functional Media or Advertising). Describe the cookies or identifiers they set, their purpose, the approximate duration, and the US data transfer with the applicable safeguard (EU-US Data Privacy Framework or Standard Contractual Clauses). You do not need to mention Smart Slider 3 itself in your cookie policy if you use only local media, as it does not process personal data. ## **Summary: risk levels by usage** Smart Slider 3 with local images and media only: risk is LOW, no consent required, no cookie notice entry needed. Smart Slider 3 with YouTube or Vimeo embeds: risk rises to MEDIUM to HIGH due to third-party cookies and US data transfers; consent is required before the video iframe loads. Smart Slider 3 loading Google Fonts externally: risk is LOW to MEDIUM; self-hosting fonts is the recommended solution to eliminate the data transfer entirely. Choose your media strategy carefully to match your desired compliance level. Compliance ## Smart Slider 3 and the GDPR - Legal basis No consent required for the plugin alone (functional/technical rendering). Consent IS required if slides embed YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Fonts, as those third parties set cookies and transfer data to the US. - Risk level low - Applicable regulations GDPR, ePrivacy Directive (applies only when third-party embeds are used) ### Impact assessment (DPIA) No DPIA is required for Smart Slider 3 itself. If slides embed YouTube or Vimeo videos, those providers' privacy policies and data transfers (to the US) apply and should be addressed in your cookie notice and privacy policy. Consider using youtube-nocookie.com for YouTube embeds and self-hosting Google Fonts to avoid third-party data transfers entirely. ### Sample text for your banner > This slide contains an embedded video from \[YouTube/Vimeo]. Loading this video will allow \[YouTube/Vimeo] to set cookies and collect data about your viewing activity, which may be transferred to servers in the United States. Please accept to play the video. Cookies and trackers ## What Smart Slider 3 sets and contacts - Tracking method Client-side JavaScript plugin for rendering sliders; no tracking cookies from the plugin itself. Third-party cookies and data transfers arise only if slides embed YouTube/Vimeo videos or load Google Fonts. - Server location N/A (client-side plugin; third-party embed servers: US for YouTube/Vimeo/Google Fonts) - Cookieless mode available Yes ### Cookies set (3) | Name | Type | Duration | Purpose | | ------------------------------------------------ | ---------- | ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | YouTube Session Cookie (conditional) | session | Session | Set by YouTube (Google LLC) when a YouTube video is embedded in a Smart Slider 3 slide. Loads only if a YouTube embed is present on the page. Used by YouTube to maintain session state and user preferences. Non-essential; requires prior consent before the YouTube iframe is loaded. Not set by Smart Slider 3 itself. | | YouTube Persistent Tracking Cookie (conditional) | persistent | Up to 2 years | Set by YouTube (Google LLC) when a YouTube video is embedded in a Smart Slider 3 slide. Used for advertising personalisation, analytics, and user tracking across Google services. Transfers data to US servers. Non-essential; requires prior consent. Not set by Smart Slider 3 itself. | | Vimeo Player Cookie (conditional) | persistent | Up to 1 year | Set by Vimeo, Inc. when a Vimeo video is embedded in a Smart Slider 3 slide. Used for player preferences, analytics, and advertising attribution. Transfers data to US servers. Non-essential; requires prior consent before the Vimeo iframe loads. Not set by Smart Slider 3 itself. | ### Third-party domains contacted (4) - `www.youtube.com` - `player.vimeo.com` - `fonts.googleapis.com` - `fonts.gstatic.com` Questions ## Frequently asked questions about Smart Slider 3 Can't find your question? Write to us, we answer fast. [Write to us](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/demo) ### Does Smart Slider 3 set cookies on my visitors' browsers? No. Smart Slider 3 itself does not set any cookies. The plugin renders sliders client-side using JavaScript and locally hosted assets, and does not place tracking or functional cookies on visitor devices. However, if you embed YouTube or Vimeo videos inside your sliders, those providers will set their own cookies when the slide page loads, independently of the Smart Slider 3 plugin. Similarly, loading Google Fonts from an external CDN (fonts.googleapis.com) does not set cookies but does transfer visitor IP addresses to Google servers. ### Does using Smart Slider 3 require user consent? Not on its own. The Smart Slider 3 plugin does not process personal data or set cookies, so no consent is required for the plugin itself. Consent IS required if you embed YouTube or Vimeo videos in your sliders, because those providers set non-essential cookies and transfer data to the US as soon as the embed loads. For Google Fonts loaded via an external CDN, consent or a separate legal basis may be required under some EU supervisory authority interpretations. ### What is the legal basis when embedded media is used in Smart Slider 3? For YouTube and Vimeo video embeds, consent under Article 6(1)(a) GDPR is the required legal basis, because these providers set non-essential cookies and use data for advertising and analytics purposes. For Google Fonts loaded from Google's CDN, some European courts have found IP address transfer requires a legal basis; self-hosting fonts is the cleanest solution. Smart Slider 3 itself requires no legal basis as it processes no personal data. ### Does Smart Slider 3 transfer data to third countries? The plugin itself does not transfer any data. However, embedded YouTube or Vimeo videos load content from Google LLC and Vimeo Inc. servers in the United States, triggering GDPR Chapter V transfer obligations. These transfers may be covered by the EU-US Data Privacy Framework or Standard Contractual Clauses. Google Fonts served from Google's CDN also sends visitor IP addresses to US servers. Self-hosting all media and fonts avoids any third-country data transfer entirely. ### Do I need a DPIA for Smart Slider 3? No DPIA is required for Smart Slider 3 itself. If you embed YouTube or Vimeo videos, you should document those third-party processing activities in your Article 30 records and assess the transfer safeguards, but a full DPIA is not typically required for standard video embeds alone. If you combine video embeds with other high-risk processing, a broader DPIA may be advisable. ### How do I use Smart Slider 3 in a GDPR-compliant way when embedding videos? Use a consent-gated embed approach: replace the YouTube or Vimeo iframe with a static thumbnail image until the visitor consents to video cookies via your CMP. For YouTube, switch to the youtube-nocookie.com embed domain to reduce tracking. For Google Fonts, download the font files and serve them from your own hosting to remove the external CDN call. Update your privacy policy and cookie notice to list YouTube and/or Vimeo as third-party providers if you embed their videos. ### Are there privacy-friendlier alternatives for embedding video in Smart Slider 3? Yes. For video, consider: using a self-hosted video file (MP4) directly in the slider with no third-party cookies or data transfers; using a privacy-enhanced YouTube embed (youtube-nocookie.com) which delays cookie setting until playback; or using Vimeo with privacy-enhanced options enabled. For fonts, self-hosting eliminates Google CDN calls entirely. These approaches keep Smart Slider 3's visual richness without triggering third-party consent obligations. ### How should I reference Smart Slider 3 in my cookie policy? If you use Smart Slider 3 with only local media, you do not need to mention the plugin in your cookie policy. If your sliders embed YouTube videos, list YouTube (Google LLC) in your cookie notice under the Functional Media or Advertising category, including the cookies YouTube sets, their purpose, duration, and the US data transfer. Do the same for Vimeo if you embed Vimeo videos. Update your policy whenever you add or remove third-party embeds from your sliders. Same category ## More services: CMS [See the whole category](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms) ### [Joomla](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/joomla) [Joomla is a popular web platform powering millions of websites worldwide, offering a flexible and extensible foundation for building any type of online presence. It provides themes, plugins, and a user-friendly admin interface for developers and non-technical users. Joomla supports e-commerce, blogging, portfolios, and enterprise websites with robust customization options. With a massive community and continuous updates, Joomla remains a leading web development choice.](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/joomla) [CMS](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/joomla) · ### [Weblication](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/weblication) [Weblication is a foundational web service that powers critical website functions and digital experiences. It provides reliable infrastructure, seamless integration capabilities, and consistent performance across all devices and browsers. Weblication supports modern development practices and scales with growing business needs. With a focus on stability and compatibility, Weblication ensures your website delivers a smooth, uninterrupted experience to every visitor and search engine crawler.](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/weblication) [CMS](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/weblication) · ### [Sharing](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/sharing) [Sharing is a digital analytics solution that helps businesses measure and understand their online performance through comprehensive data collection and analysis. It provides visitor tracking, behavioral insights, and conversion metrics across websites and applications. Sharing supports custom event tracking, audience segmentation, and automated reporting. With intuitive dashboards and visualization tools, Sharing enables informed decisions that improve experience and drive results.](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/sharing) [Analytics](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/sharing) · ### [Pixelesq](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/pixelesq) [Pixelesq is a digital analytics solution that helps businesses measure and understand their online performance through comprehensive data collection and analysis. It provides visitor tracking, behavioral insights, and conversion metrics across websites and applications. Pixelesq supports custom event tracking, audience segmentation, and automated reporting. With intuitive dashboards and visualization tools, Pixelesq enables informed decisions that improve experience and drive results.](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/pixelesq) [Analytics](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/pixelesq) · ### [Webstudio](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/webstudio) [Webstudio is an analytics and measurement platform providing deep insights into digital ecosystem performance. It tracks user interactions, measures campaign effectiveness, and identifies optimization opportunities across web and mobile. Webstudio offers customizable dashboards, automated alerts, and data export capabilities. By transforming raw data into actionable intelligence, Webstudio empowers organizations to optimize strategy and maximize return on investment.](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/webstudio) [CMS](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/webstudio) · ### [Philomena](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/philomena) [Philomena is a web technology service that provides essential functionality for websites and digital platforms. It delivers core capabilities that support site operations, content delivery, and user experience optimization. Philomena integrates seamlessly with modern web architectures, ensuring reliable performance and compatibility across browsers and devices. Trusted by businesses worldwide, Philomena helps organizations maintain robust websites that meet user expectations and technical requirements.](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/philomena) [CMS](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/services/cms/philomena) ## Make your site compliant today. Free up to 25,000 sessions a month. No credit card, no commitment. [Create my banner](https://app.flowconsent.com/auth/sign-up?utm_source=flowconsent.com\&utm_medium=referral\&utm_campaign=general) · [Scan my site](https://www.flowconsent.com/en/scan)