I opened this URL in my browser, and I was offered a `didomi_token` cookie that assigned me a user_id of 17d72dbe-d667-610e-ba58-323f0a33f7b1. When viewed in a browser as opposed to cURL it's actually a HTML page containing, among other things, the actual gif image hosted at https://i.giphy.com/media/bKgCINrtZWQ39wZCxU/giphy-downsized... (this one comes without cookies).

Now try loading it in a browser like everyone else. You will find cookies for giphy.com and cookies.giphy.com. Please stop spreading misinformation.

sure, but this does not prove anything.

besides who would want to give a cookie to curl UA?

User agents aren't a thing?

s/cookie/ip data and referrer tracking/.