Europe's war on cookies • Hacker News Board

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#11

Post by codeup » Wed, May 11, 2011, 11:48 AM UTC

relix wrote: post #8

darklajid wrote: post #7

> Traditionally, the US and the UK have taken a more relaxed approach to privacy. But the legislative and interventionist tendencies of Europe -- and of France and Germany in particular Now, this is the first time in a decade that I couldn't avoid a smug face and tiny bit of affection formy home country.. Seriously: As others pointed out here, this is a targeted law against privacy breaches. If your company builds it…

What's wrong with advertising geared towards your interests? Or do you enjoy watching ads on penis enlargements, gambling, whitening teeth and How To Get Rich While Sleeping?

You could also ask: What's wrong with news and political information geared towards your political opinions?

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#12

Post by dave1010uk » Wed, May 11, 2011, 11:51 AM UTC

chalst wrote: post #3

The UK Information Commissioner's report on the coming legislation: http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/documents/library/Privacy_and_... There is no requirement to ask for permission to issue cookies if the cookies are "strictly necessary" for the task, such as for logging into a user account or using a one-click -style purchase. I have the impression that it will principally affect user-tracking systems like Google Analy…

Page 4, section "What will happen to me if I don’t do anything?":

> In light of this if the ICO were to receive a complaint about a website, we would expect an organisation's response to set out how they have considered the points above and that they have a realistic plan to achieve compliance.

So basically compliance isn't required, just a plan to achieve compliance.

"Our realistic plan is to implement an invasive po-pup sometime within the next 3 centuries."

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#13

Post by Knacker_Hughes » Wed, May 11, 2011, 11:54 AM UTC

I see this also covers the use of Flash cookies, but I wonder about the use of Etags as a tracking mechanism.

If I recall correctly, some of these sites use cookies, Flash cookies and also unique Etags on an object in the browser cache to try to work around people blocking cookies from their domains.

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#14

Post by relix » Wed, May 11, 2011, 11:56 AM UTC

barrkel wrote: post #9

relix wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's wrong with advertising geared towards your interests? Or do you enjoy watching ads on penis enlargements, gambling, whitening teeth and How To Get Rich While Sleeping?

It implies that someone has built a profile describing your interests from your behaviour. Many people find that creepy, and not worth targeted advertising. It's reminiscent of secret police behaviour with their networks of informants, and is not a distant memory in much of Europe.

It's not much different than any other recommendation system though. It's also funny how these ads exist because they work - i.e. the user actually does find them interesting, clicks on them, and discovers a product they pay money for because it brings them value.

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#15

Post by meow » Wed, May 11, 2011, 11:58 AM UTC

I don't get it, how do users login to the websites (like gmail) without using cookies ? Does this legislation target only permanent cookies that stay even after the user has logged out ?

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#16

Post by hardik988 » Wed, May 11, 2011, 12:06 PM UTC

Do the regulations say anything about localstorage ? I guess one could use that in place of a cookie..

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#17

Post by chalst » Wed, May 11, 2011, 12:07 PM UTC

meow wrote: post #15

I don't get it, how do users login to the websites (like gmail) without using cookies ? Does this legislation target only permanent cookies that stay even after the user has logged out ?

According to the ICO report on the legislation I linked to, use of cookies needed to provide the user with a service they have requested is explicitly permitted. Likewise, if your use of the cookie does not violate privacy (i.e., you don't build up a user profile), it is OK.

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#18

Post by dave1010uk » Wed, May 11, 2011, 12:08 PM UTC

meow wrote: post #15

I don't get it, how do users login to the websites (like gmail) without using cookies ? Does this legislation target only permanent cookies that stay even after the user has logged out ?

That would most probably come under "strictly necessary".

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#19

Post by relix » Wed, May 11, 2011, 12:08 PM UTC

codeup wrote: post #11

relix wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's wrong with advertising geared towards your interests? Or do you enjoy watching ads on penis enlargements, gambling, whitening teeth and How To Get Rich While Sleeping?

You could also ask: What's wrong with news and political information geared towards your political opinions?

This comparison is not apt.

Re: Europe's war on cookies

#20

Post by nupark2 » Wed, May 11, 2011, 12:08 PM UTC

relix wrote: post #14

barrkel wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It implies that someone has built a profile describing your interests from your behaviour. Many people find that creepy, and not worth targeted advertising. It's reminiscent of secret police behaviour with their networks of informants, and is not a distant memory in much of Europe.

It's not much different than any other recommendation system though. It's also funny how these ads exist because they work - i.e. the user actually does find them interesting, clicks on them, and discovers a product they pay money for because it brings them value.

If you're certain I'll agree to being tracked as to receive a better advertising experience, simply ask first.