Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

"Breathtakingly Stupid" EU Cookie Law Passes

Posted by kdawson on from the uac-plus-plus dept.

Reader whencanistop writes with some details on an upcoming EU law that slipped under the radar as it was part of the package containing the "three strikes" provision, which attracted all the attention and criticism. "A couple of weeks ago we discussed the EU cookie proposal, which has now been passed into law. While the original story broke on the Out-law blog from a law perspective ('so breathtakingly stupid that the normally law-abiding business may be tempted to bend the rules to breaking point'), there has now been followup from a couple of industry insiders. Aurelie Pols of the Web Analytics Association has blogged on how this will affect websites that want to monitor what people are looking at on their sites, while eConsultancy has blogged on how this will impact the affiliate industry. In all of this the general public is being ignored — the people who, if the law is actually implemented, will have to proceed through ridiculous screens of text every time they access a website. I know most of you guys hate cookies in general, but they are vital for websites to know how people are accessing the sites so they can work out how to improve the experience for the user."

3 of 447 comments (clear)

  1. I don't see the stupidity here by Skapare · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Maybe it's a bit harsh. But so are the abuses of cookies.

    Cookies are used to keep a shopping cart. That out-law.com article spells that out. Cookies are used to track logins on forum sites. There might be an implied consent, there. But to be sure, just ask for consent when users register. Previously registered users would be directed to the consent request page once the next time they try to login. Explain that the consent is for the cookie used keep their login state. Explain that without consent, the login process cannot be completed and the user would be limited to the access level of a non-logged-in user.

    Now, what else are cookies used for, that consent should not need to be given for?

    --
    now we need to go OSS in diesel cars
    1. Re:I don't see the stupidity here by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You know the funny thing about companies that collect and sell my personal data?

      Their prices are higher than companies who do not.

      Krogers and Randalls both do this.

      HEB & Foodtown don't.

      Yet the same product at randalls and krogers *with the affinity card discount* is more expensive than the same product at HEB and foodtown. Sometimes dramatically so (25% or more- example, whipcream $5.29 with discount card vs $3.99 every day without card).

      --
      She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
  2. OK , so the first link... by Viol8 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    ... is to an old slashdot story which even says the initial write up is wrong and it has a link to a yahoo story which no longer exists. Come on guys , I know this is slashdot but try a little feckin harder for gods sake.