A recent amendment to the EU's Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive has meant that there are changes to the way cookies are used on websites. Companies are now required to obtain the consent of their users for storing cookies (and other information storing technologies) on their access devices. This new rule is intended to add to the level of protection afforded to the privacy of internet users.
Previously the rule on using cookies was essentially:
This type of regulation has previously led to a state of 'passive' acceptance of cookies by users. Users would have to actively object by opting out; otherwise acceptance of cookies was implied. This is no longer the case.
This new legislation places the responsibility of compliance firmly with those organisations and websites collecting data from users via cookies. The EU law states that "data controllers must actively prove that they need to keep the data, rather than individuals having to prove that collecting their data is not necessary". European Justice Commissioner, Vivianne Redding.
The new cookies regulation states:
Ability for user to 'opt out' is no longer sufficient.
How will the Regulation Affect Your Company?
The task of ensuring cookie compliance is significantly complex, simply because most companies have no idea how many cookies they are running or what all the cookies are used for.
There are cookies which are recognised as essential and others which are known as Third Party Cookies. So it is obvious that the process of identifying and categorising the cookies is potentially a huge challenge that many organisations must face.
What Now?
The Information Commissioner’s Office has announced that it will give UK websites twelve months before it will enforce the new EU cookie law. Contact us to learn more about the cookies regulation and discover how jetNEXUS can help you become compliant.
Cookie Compliance Datasheet:
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