Cookie Developments

Well we have been busy planning things and delivering on client projects as usual. But we’ve also been busy monitoring some of the social space to see people’s reactions to the latest development in the web world – the updated ePrivacy Directive from Europe; otherwise known as ‘the cookie law’.

We met last week with a representative from the Department of Culture Media & Sport (Government department responsible for implementing the directive to UK law) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (The regulator who receives complaints about infringements, ICO) thanks to the International Chamber of Commerce.

Whilst we will make a more detailed summary available for clients who would like support complying with the new law the short answer to those asking ‘what?’ is:

Websites will need to collect informed consent (not necessarily prior consent) to set cookies on their users’ computers. The best way to comply is to make a very clear privacy policy that covers what each cookie is, what it’s used for and how the customer can refuse it. Remember also that login’s and site registrations are classed as actions where the setting of cookies are strictly necessary, but use it as a great opportunity to ask customers to consent to the cookies you use across your website by providing a link to the full information (your shiny new privacy policy) and a check box that they must tick to proceed.

More information is available from the ICO, with their guidance document a good place to start: http://www.ico.gov.uk

The BBC seem to have implemented compliance very well, take a look at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/bbc-cookies-policy.shtml