Do you like cookies?
If you have not heard about the cookie law in the news over the past few months, you really must have had your head stuck deep inside the cookie jar! Recent changes in EU legislation now dictate that all UK websites must inform users about any cookies the site uses as from May 26th 2012. Originally it was to be enforced that all websites that the law covered, would have to stop using cookies until the website user had given permission (known as 'explicit consent') for the site to use them - this meant that services like Google Analytics would not be able to function and provide website owners with website analytical data to see how many users had arrived at the site, from where and what they did during their website visit - core data in helping to tailor and improve a website.
Thankfully at the 11th hour the ICO (the governing body behind enforcing the law in the UK) decided to change the legislation a little to allow 'Implied consent' as an acceptable practice here. Implied consent means the website can continue to use cookies from the outset so long as the site informs the user that the site is using cookies and additionally outlines them in detail on a privacy policy page. The privacy policy page must include data about what cookies are used and why they are being used along with any links to third party websites for further information.
So if you are a website owner and have not yet complied with the PECR legislation it's about time you pulled your head out of the cookie jar and made sure your cookies are compliant! If you are interested in jonwallacedesign - digital design studio assisting in making your site compliant please contact us today!
Please Note - I am not a lawyer and thus the thoughts mentioned above are just my own and should not be seen as legal advice in any manner.
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