EU Cookie Law - ways to comply
Published 31st May 2012
You may remember our previous news article about the EU Cookie law explaining the impending changes to the use of cookies and similar technologies on websites. This law change requires all websites to gain consent from the user or subscriber before storing information on their device.
Background
As of May 26th 2012 this new e-Privacy Directive was officially passed, and all websites must now comply or may be subject to investigation by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO). If a solution to ensure compliance has not been applied - or steps taken towards alerting your website users - you could be found to be in breach of the regulations, potentially leaving you open to a fine.
Don't Panic!
Mercurytide can help you by performing a detailed audit of all cookies being used by your website and provide you with information on what method might be best to ensure that your site is compliant.
What to do?
Essentially the requirement of the EC Directive is that the following should be made clear by anyone setting cookies on their website:
- You must advise people that the cookies are there
- You must explain what these cookies are doing
- Advise whether these are 1st or 3rd party cookies
- Advise whether cookies are session or persistent
- You must obtain users' consent to store a cookie on their device.
Different businesses have adopted different approaches (such as banners, pop-ups, updated privacy pages etc.) and although there's not necessarily a one-size-fits-all method, we can definitely help you find the solution or combination that's best for you and fits in with your website.
Get in touch
If you would like us to perform a site audit of your website to get you on your way to complying with the new law, then please contact Mercurytide and we will be happy to arrange.