As of the 26th May 2011 the law which applies to how you use cookies is changing and quite dramatically too as directed by the ICO. You are now being (asked / advised / ordered) to request your users' permission before storing any "non-essential" cookies on their machine. The given example of an "essential" cookie is one which remembers what is in their shopping cart. So, my thoughts follow.
Chances are you’re here because you heard about the changes to the rules on using cookies and similar technologies for storing information and are now trawling through Google trying to find the second part of the directive saying, "Just kidding!!!!1! lolllzzzzzzzzz, luv ICO xx" but getting progressively concerned as you can't find it anywhere.I'm also guessing that you can't quite believe what you are hearing. Cookies? The cookies that have been around since early 90s? The ones that have evolved over almost 20 years? The ones that are now integral to your users' experience, your analytics, your business intelligence and possibly tracking click-throughs necessary for your revenue? Yes, those things. Oh PS you have about a week to change how you use them.
Development cycle
Does the ICO have any idea how development cycles work? You can't expect every website available in the EU to suddenly change something as integral as cookies that quickly whilst putting all other development work on hold. Also, since this will be such a degradation of user experience there will surely be a "well, you first" effect where no one will comply until their competitors also comply.
Example of why this isn't fair
Website1 has a link promoting Website2. Website2 sells several products. Website2 has promised that if a user who was referred from Website1 purchases a product it will give a proportion of its revenue to Website1.
This system could be implemented by checking the users' referrer on entry to Website2 and then storing it in a cookie. After clicking around the site a user purchases a product, a cookie is checked to see that they came from Website1 to determine whether or not to share revenue for that purchase.
In this example you can see how the use of this cookie is fundamental to the monetisation of Website1 and the relationship => traffic => monetisation of Website2. You can also see how that cookie is of absolutely no interest of the user and therefore "non-essential". So, when asked, would that user accept that cookie? Probably not.
Hypocrisy
So it hasn't come into effect yet, sure, but even still wouldn't you lead by example if you thought it was such a great idea? Find out by visiting the ICO homepage and viewing your cookies. Looks like analytics cookies tracking my behaviour to me. Update: almost a year later they have updated their site to not send cookies without asking first. Wonder how happy their analysts are with the lack of traffic statistics? Regardless I should concede this point.
Communication
Can you seriously change the law that significantly which such poor communication? I only found out about this through word of mouth (i.e Twitter) and then reading the "guidance" made me surprised to discover developers are now expected to be law graduates. I was expecting to read a clear directive not a rambling 10 page pdf of legal speak.
You can't stop tracking of information
Developers are skilled in the art of workarounds. We'll find a way of storing information about users regardless of this directive. For example if we're allowed a session cookie, we'll use that cookie to reference a plethora of information about the user in a database. Oh look, workaround is already there. So what are you achieving now other than making my DBA less happy?
Conclusion
If this is actually taken seriously you can get used to clicking a lot more often as websites ask you if you'd like to allow cookies or not. Possibly as some websites suffer from losing money streams from both essential tracking and poor user experience they may struggle to exist.
That or we will all be arrested (including the ICO).
Authentication cookies are classed as low priority because they don't divulge personal information. We've told our customers that as we only use cookies for authentication we're not high priority and may be able to just ignore this farce. It's good it's been deferred for a year though http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13541250
ReplyDeleteGovernments sticking their collective EU noses where they are not required and this will only be another nail in the legislative coffin that is endeavouring to remove all profit from business and place in the hands of fat cats in Brussels - come the revolution brother ...
ReplyDeleteIn your example of the affiliate site that gets a cut of purchase by users who follow a link to another site, as it is you're right, consumers would normally have no interest in consenting to a cookie. Although computer users generally click whatever they think will make annoying dialogue boxes go away without think much about what it means, so if you make it easier to say "yes" than "no", probably most people will say yes.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't do that sort of thing, you could probably get consent by offering a discount or a free gift with purchases. You'd have to give users something to give up a little bit of their privacy, even though all they're giving up is the information about what website they came to you from.
Motifz Designer Lawn. 1, 2 & 3 Piece Unstitched Premium Embroidered Lawn 2019, Premium embroidered Lawn, Premium lawn, Premium lawn 2019, Motifz, Premium lawn in Pakistan Summer collection. Shipping worldwide. Stitching option available.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post!
شركة شحن عفش من السعودية الى الاردن
شركة شحن عفش من جدة الى الامارات
شركة شحن عفش من جدة الى الاردن
Thanks for your post!
شركة شحن عفش من جدة الى الامارات شركة شحن عفش من جدة الى الامارات
شركة شحن عفش من جدة الى الاردن شركة شحن عفش من جدة الى الاردن
How do you clean a fabric sofa?
How much does it cost to have a sofa cleaned?
How do you clean a sofa?
Can you get a couch professionally cleaned?
شركة تنظيف كنب بمكة بالبخار
شركة تنظيف كنب بمكة بالبخار
تنظيف بمكة شركة تنظيف بمكة بالبخار
Buy online wholesale printed custom lipstick boxes and packaging at easy prices and shipping worldwide, with 24/7 customer support. Get a free custom quote now!!
ReplyDeleteBuy online wholesale printed custom candle boxes and packaging at easy prices and shipping worldwide, with 24/7 customer support. Get a free custom quote now!!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the best Online Trading App for earning money in stock market.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.guest-articles.com/education/how-to-pass-gaqm-iso-iec-li-exam-on-first-try-10-12-2020
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteHi mate,
I am recently followed your post. It was very unique compare to others. I am very impressed to saw your post. I am got many information. My knowledge was grown up to read your post. Thank you for sharing your knowledge here. keep doing many post .
also read : Bone Conduction Glasses
Buy sports trousers in pakistan from Dshred at best prices delivered at your doorstep. Get free shipping
ReplyDeleteits an amazing blog and contains useful information.
ReplyDeleteFIA Pakistan jobs . Click here and apply for it
ReplyDeleteThank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
Shalom Lamm
We will try to hold our overview up to date with brands that do accept players.
ReplyDeleteShalom Lamm
I have been surfing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any
ReplyDeleteinteresting article like yours. It's pretty worth enough for me.
Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content
as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
By the way, here is a link to fantastic site for earnings
Shalom Lamm
Thanks for the nice blog. It was very useful for me.
ReplyDeleteShalom Lamm
Many of us always dreamt of the Greek god physique, as it’s a very popular one and has many benefits not only in terms of health but also look wise.
ReplyDeletegreek god physique
those who have dreamt of greek god body but never heard the term will elaborate about the Greek God Physique first, so lets see,
This website is the best. I learned a lot to this website hope.
ReplyDeleteroll off dumpster rental near me
This information is very helpful. If you are looking for best video editor the VN Video Editor APK is the best editor for Android/ iOS users.
ReplyDelete