EU Cookie law comes into effect May 26th

[Toble]

The giant pain in the backside that in the EU Cookie law will hit soon.

Heart Internet (the lads I get my hosting from) have published this useful bit of help an advice:

http://www.heartinternet.co.uk/blog/2012/04/what-to-do-about-the-new-eu-cookie-law/

 

[wmrcomputers]

Cheers for that toble, as I wasn't even aware of the new law and I'm responsible for 8 websites!
Reading up though, I don't use analytics or affiliate links etc., so my sites should therefore only use essential cookies (if any) that I therefore shouldn't have to comply.

 

[Toble]

Google Analytics? You'll need it for that. Anything with Wordpress? That too.
Anything that uses Facebook features? Yep.

 

[wmrcomputers]

Google Analytics? You'll need it for that. Anything with Wordpress? That too.
Anything that uses Facebook features? Yep.

None of these apply to me

 

[tek-monkey]

It covers google analytics?

 

[Admin]

Cheers for that toble, as I wasn't even aware of the new law and I'm responsible for 8 websites!

Indeed; that was exactly my response when Toble brought it to my attention. Considering it is going to have potential ramifications for the vast majority of websites out there, one would have thought it was reported more widely!

All of the advice pages I have subsequently read have basically said "Don't worry about it; the Government's own web pages aren't compliant so this is more of a pen-pushing exercise at the moment."

Obviously, I will be keeping a close eye on it to make sure that The Forum is at no risk and follows any applicable guidelines.

 

[Gramaisc]

A certain Forumite seems to be in compliance with this directive already - he is no longer proclaiming "--I am a cookie"..

 

[Fonzie-NL]

Many thanks Toble for the info!

We also never follow what they do in Brussels......

As we also maintain one site, I have added a "privacy & cookies" page to the site.
Giving a short disclaimer and useful tips about cookies.
Using http://www.attacat.co.uk/resources/cookie-button-generator#axzz1t9wiUOhO
I have made a small floating warning sign indicating that cookies are used on the site,
And clicking on it sends people to the info.
At least people have been warned then......

 

[wmrcomputers]

I am considering adding a site entry page to my websites just as a precautionary measure. At least if you give a cookie warning then nothing can catch us out and land us in heavy trouble with a fine. As said, I don't have reason to believe that my site's use anything other than essential cookies, but I can't be 100% sure on how my host behaves - it could be baking some cookies for it's own purposes for all I know.

 

[The Stafford Beast]

The whole thing is an unenforceable joke in my opinion.
If people don't want cookies on their PC, they should disable third-party cookies or only allow cookies from the web page's domain. I know this can be done in Firefox anyways...

 

[tek-monkey]

You have to bear in mind the simple fact of stupidity - these laws are dreamt up and applied by the sort of people who don't understand the internet. Give me two minutes with one of these guys and I am positive they will be unable to answer my questions, yet they will still push the bill through because it makes them look good to champion something. Even if it is a large steaming turd, but thats politics for you.

 

[Gramaisc]

You have to bear in mind the simple fact of stupidity - these laws are dreamt up and applied by the sort of people who don't understand the internet. Give me two minutes with one of these guys and I am positive they will be unable to answer my questions, yet they will still push the bill through because it makes them look good to champion something. Even if it is a large steaming turd, but thats politics for you.

It seems clear to me that the majority of legislators have at least the following level of understanding.

I don't want my tubes filled with your rubbish.

 

[wmrcomputers]

Well there you have it! I've been wondering why it's taken so long for our country to reach speeds of 100meg, and I now see it's those ridiculous fibre-optic cables that virgin media use. Now... if only they'd used TUBES!

That was really fun to listen to Gramaisc... skill awarded!

 

[Darren]

"None of these apply to me
Best value PC and laptop repairs in Stafford & Stone by www.wmrcomputers.co.uk"
The cookie law came into effect last May but will start being enforced from this May and pressy much most sites will have to comply,
Wmcomputers site uses these cookies
__qca
is_mobile
__utma
__utmb
__utmc
__utmz
W
c_user
datr
lu
xs
some of them cookies are Facebook and i think Google Analytics's if that is the case you will need to comply, this cookie control is not to hard to install
http://www.civicuk.com/cookie-law/index and it is free .

 

[db]

the thing is, most internet users won't even know what a "cookie" is, so if they get a pop-up saying "click here to agree to such-and-such," no matter how innocuous it sounds, it's going to put some people off browsing that particular site altogether..

i agree with the earlier "don't ask don't tell" consensus - if you run a website, i basically wouldn't worry about it unless some government official comes knocking on your door and demands you enforce it.. and if they do, i will present you with a golden egg that i have laid myself lol..

 

[John Marwood]

Amendment of the 2003 Regulations

5. After regulation 5, insert—
“Personal data breach"

5a
(2) If a personal data breach occurs, the service provider shall, without undue delay, notify that breach to the Information Commissioner.

Dear Christopher Graham

I shall be popping up to Wilmslow again - could you advise on parking please

(x 20,000,000)

Cheers

John

 

[wmrcomputers]

@Darren - I don't use analytics, but yes there is a Facebook link.

2 things, first of all I agree with db that unless I am asked to do something about it I don't have the urgent desire to potentially lose business due to some ridiculous and possibly un-enforceable law. Secondly, if this law is so massive, why did myself and others not even know anything about it until somebody spoke up on here about it? If I was dragged to court over this then I would argue that Nominet and your own domain name providers should have been responsible for raising awareness about this law in the first place.

Yes, I could fully comply within a few minutes of alterations. Can I afford to lose business to another local technician because a warning on my site scares people from entering? Absolutely not.

As with most laws on these kind of issue's, you are giving a fair warning to make changes within "X" amount of days - i'll take my chances until then

 

[Darren]

I respect what you are saying and i totally agree with you but you must remember the law has been in for nearly one year now, domain companies are now beginning to put information out there http://www.123-reg.co.uk/blog/security-issues/is-the-eus-cookie-law-confusing-you-too

The argument that you will comply when your site is flagged is a risky one due to the fact we will of had a year to implement it.

 

[wmrcomputers]

A year from when though, this is my point. Besides this thread I have no knowledge of it, via my domain providers or otherwise.

It's a tricky one to decide what to do, because like I say I simply can't afford to lose business (especially as I'm a very small scale sole trader). I warning message could be very daunting and throw people to the opposition

 

[Darren]

It came in May 2011, and again i agree we should of been notified, but it is of no surprise we haven't after all since when did the big companies really care about us independent traders and small companies, if i was you i would put something in your footer about cookies at least then if they come by your site they will see you have taken some steps and are more likely to warn you to sort it out.