NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] EU passes "cookie consent" law
The WSJ reports on the EU approving a new law requiring affirmative consent before dropping cookies on user computers: http://bit.ly/2l7HFn (Wall Street Journal) I must admit wondering how practical this will turn out to be in practice. The law's exemption for "strictly necessary" cookies would seem to cover routine uses for login, session operatins, and primary site control functions, so the focus appears to be on statistical and "tracking" cookies. The situation created would appear to be one where the absence of a cookie would mean the user either hadn't been asked permission in the past or had declined to accept the cookies. But without dropping a cookie that says that the user declined other cookies, it would seem much more difficult to avoid asking users for cookie permission every time that they visit, and perhaps even multiple times during a session. There are ways around this problem of course, but they are not necessarily pretty -- or always practical, especially for smaller sites. Frankly, I would prefer the focus to be on how cookies are used, rather than on the cookies themselves. --Lauren-- NNSquad Moderator