In May 2012, the new EU Cookie Directive is due to be enforced. Now when you usually hear ‘Cookie’, you think “chocolate chip please”. Unfortunately this isn’t the good kind and will have a significant impact for the functionality and visual elements of most websites.
So What is A ‘Cookie’?
A ‘Cookie’ is simply a way for a website to remember things that a browser has done, whether it be clicking particular buttons, having read certain pages previously or logging into websites. The EU Cookie Directive is now asking that for any site where a cookie is not crucial to the functionality of a site, such as any e-commerce sites where a visitor logs in and browses different pages, still logged in, then
the website must ask the visitors permission to use cookies during their session.
Have a look at this video to explain more about the EU Cookie Directive:
data="http://www.youtube.com/v/arWJA0jVPAc?version=3&hl=en_GB"
type="application/x-shockwave-flash">
value="true" />
value="http://www.youtube.com/v/arWJA0jVPAc?version=3&hl=en_GB" />
How is This Law Being Incorporated?
To incorporate the new law into a website, some will opt for a ‘pop up box’ asking visitors permission to use cookies on their site. However, as it stands, AdWords currently rejects any adverts that take the visitor to a pop up box before reaching the landing page.
This could be an interesting revelation as to how websites will overcome this challenge.
Some pop up boxes will solve issues surrounding Google Analytics tracking but still miss out other
cookie tracking issues. A way around this is to ask permission to use all cookies but also provide more information on the same line.
Some sites, such as Waitrose and The BBC, have created specific pages to explain what a ‘Cookie’ is and how this law will affect them, without adding in a permission pop up box. This is a great resource for those who are unaware of the changes, as this is exactly who the new law is aimed at protecting.
What will this achieve?
Ultimately Government guidelines are saying that Google Analytics are okay, it is after all, an integral part to tracking visitors to your websites.
They are just asking that any unnecessary cookies are removed and for you to provide a clear Privacy Policy that explains all of the changes and terminologies. The aim is to protect more and more users on the Internet and allow for more privacy.
It will help to educate people and make them aware of what information they are unknowingly giving away over the Internet. Research already suggests awareness is heightened and the Government’s plan could actually
work.
Is your website EU Cookie Directive compliant? Is this really necessary? How are you going to
get around pop up boxes on your website? Let us know your thoughts below:
