Ahead of a nationwide deadline over regulating the use of cookies, the BBC has learned that the "majority" of the UK government's own websites will fail to comply in time.
All UK sites have been given until 26 May to make sure visitors are able to give "informed consent" over cookies.
The Cabinet Office said the government was "working to achieve compliance at the earliest possible date".
"As in the private sector, where it is estimated that very few websites will be compliant by the 26th May, so it is true of the government estate," a Cabinet Office spokesman told the BBC.
