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Cookie law deferred for one year | Cookie law deferred for one year |
(about 2 hours later) | |
UK websites are being given one year to comply with EU cookie laws, the Information Commissioner's Office has said. | UK websites are being given one year to comply with EU cookie laws, the Information Commissioner's Office has said. |
The UK government also sought to reassure the industry that there would be "no overnight changes". | The UK government also sought to reassure the industry that there would be "no overnight changes". |
The EU's Privacy and Communications Directive comes into force on 26 May. | The EU's Privacy and Communications Directive comes into force on 26 May. |
It requires user's consent before using cookies - the text files that help organise and store browsing information. | It requires user's consent before using cookies - the text files that help organise and store browsing information. |
Technically all firm must comply with the law but the UK has said that it needs more time to find a workable solution. | Technically all firm must comply with the law but the UK has said that it needs more time to find a workable solution. |
The government said that it was looking for a "business-friendly" solution and believed in light-touch regulation. | The government said that it was looking for a "business-friendly" solution and believed in light-touch regulation. |
"We recognise that some website users have real concerns around online privacy but also recognise that cookies play a key role in the smooth running of the internet," said communications minister Ed Vaizey. | "We recognise that some website users have real concerns around online privacy but also recognise that cookies play a key role in the smooth running of the internet," said communications minister Ed Vaizey. |
"But it will take some time for workable technical solutions to be developed, evaluated and rolled out so we have decided that a phased in approach is right," he added. | "But it will take some time for workable technical solutions to be developed, evaluated and rolled out so we have decided that a phased in approach is right," he added. |
Do Not Track | Do Not Track |
The government has formed a working group with browser manufacturers to see if a browser-based solution to the issue can be found. | The government has formed a working group with browser manufacturers to see if a browser-based solution to the issue can be found. |
Microsoft's IE9 and the latest verson of Mozilla's Firefox already offer a setting to protect users from services which collect and harvest browser data and Google is working at integrating so-called 'Do Not Track' technologies into their Chrome browser. | |
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport admitted that there may be "other technical solutions" but that the browser solution was the only one it was currently pursuing. | A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport admitted that there may be "other technical solutions" but that the browser solution was the only one it was currently pursuing. |
Grégory Roekens, chief technology officer for marketing firm Wunderman, agreed that in-browser functionality would work best for consumers and website owners. | Grégory Roekens, chief technology officer for marketing firm Wunderman, agreed that in-browser functionality would work best for consumers and website owners. |
"It would be less intrusive that a free-for-all that lets website owners come up with their own solution," he said. | "It would be less intrusive that a free-for-all that lets website owners come up with their own solution," he said. |
Cookies can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be used by third-parties to analyse consumer browsing habits but they can also be useful to users, remembering payment details when buying products online, for example. | Cookies can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be used by third-parties to analyse consumer browsing habits but they can also be useful to users, remembering payment details when buying products online, for example. |
Privacy groups, which pushed for greater regulation on cookies, want to see users able to give consent to every cookie presented to them. | Privacy groups, which pushed for greater regulation on cookies, want to see users able to give consent to every cookie presented to them. |
Challenging | Challenging |
Such multiple consent forms would have a disruptive effect on the browsing experience, argue online firms. | Such multiple consent forms would have a disruptive effect on the browsing experience, argue online firms. |
"We need to think about the end users," continued Mr Roekens. "We need to make sure we don't have pop-ups appearing everywhere." | "We need to think about the end users," continued Mr Roekens. "We need to make sure we don't have pop-ups appearing everywhere." |
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has been charged with enforcing the new rules, when they are drawn up. | The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has been charged with enforcing the new rules, when they are drawn up. |
Information Commissioner Christopher Graham admitted he is torn between the needs of industry and the rights of consumers. | Information Commissioner Christopher Graham admitted he is torn between the needs of industry and the rights of consumers. |
He said that the new rules on cookies were "challenging". | He said that the new rules on cookies were "challenging". |
"It would obviously ruin some users' browsing experience if they needed to negotiate endless pop-ups - and I am not saying that businesses have to go down that road," he said. | "It would obviously ruin some users' browsing experience if they needed to negotiate endless pop-ups - and I am not saying that businesses have to go down that road," he said. |
"Equally I have to remember that this law has been brought in to give consumers more choice about what companies know about them," he added. | "Equally I have to remember that this law has been brought in to give consumers more choice about what companies know about them," he added. |
Mr Graham said that the one year's grace he was offering to UK online firms "did not let everyone off the hook", hinting that he would take a dim view of firms which had done nothing by this time next year. | Mr Graham said that the one year's grace he was offering to UK online firms "did not let everyone off the hook", hinting that he would take a dim view of firms which had done nothing by this time next year. |
He also said that the ICO website was taking the lead by introducing a header bar giving users information about the cookies it uses and offering choices about how to manage them. | He also said that the ICO website was taking the lead by introducing a header bar giving users information about the cookies it uses and offering choices about how to manage them. |
"I am not saying that other websites should necessarily do the same. Every website is different and prescriptive and universal 'to do' lists would only hinder rather than help businesses to find a solution that works best for them and their customers," he said. | "I am not saying that other websites should necessarily do the same. Every website is different and prescriptive and universal 'to do' lists would only hinder rather than help businesses to find a solution that works best for them and their customers," he said. |
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