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Changes Are Coming To the EU's Cookie Directive, But It's Not Going Away (softpedia.com)
An anonymous reader writes: The European Commission is listening to suggestions regarding EU laws on privacy and electronic communications (e-Privacy), among which is also the EU Cookie Directive that has made the lives of EU Internet users a living hell. The EU Commission has started an open consultation on this topic and is inviting users and businesses to provide their opinion. From the consultation's text, which is nothing more than a survey, one could argue that the EU isn't intent on removing the directive at all, but only making small adjustments. In its current implementation, most companies ask users if they're OK with storing cookies on their PCs and then collecting their data. One of the questions the Commission asked and is currently looking for an answer is whether companies should be allowed to deny users access to a website if they don't want to accept using cookies. The EU wants Internet companies to build alternative (usable) websites for people that don't want to use cookies at all, and so respect their decision for privacy.
There is a really easy, simple way developers can handle this. Don't use cookies by default. When the user logs in or adds something to their basket have the "you accept we use cookies, here's the privacy policy" text, but when the user simply visits the site don't set any cookies.
That would eliminate 90% of the annoyance and not place an undue burden on developers. It might annoy site operators who were hoping to create profiles of visitors, but fuck those guys.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
I've never understood the problem with cookies. Websites don't control cookies, the Web-browser does.
The browser should only maintain cookies associated with the browsing window for as long as that window is open. There's no use in anything else. No timers of any sort, short or long, it gets ignored.
Now scripting, that's another kettle of fish altogether.
I used cookies to keep track of the last message that users read and what files for download had been updated. It was a long time ago but you can use cookies for things other than tracking users for ads.
Frankly I thought I was respecting the user's privacy by storing that info on their system vs keeping it in a database.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
You are respecting the user's privacy, and the EU specifically exempts the kind of cookies you are using: http://ec.europa.eu/ipg/basics...
So you don't need a statement on your site, your use is exempt from the rules.
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC