The EU Cookie Law Compliance: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!
What is a Cookie?
A cookie is a common web technology for remembering who you are between web pages. These enable login functionality, user preferences, visitor tracking, and targeted advertising. Approximately 92% of websites utilise cookies.
The Law's Requirements
The EU cookie regulation mandates that websites obtain visitor consent before deploying cookies through dropdown or accordion-style notification messages with acceptance/rejection options. Exceptions exist for certain cookie types, though analytics and advertising cookies face restrictions. This privacy protection framework allows users to control personal data usage.
Legal Background
A 2009 EU directive established the cookie consent requirement, compelling member states to implement national legislation by May 2011. Only three countries met this deadline; the UK delayed enforcement by one year following partial initial compliance. The deadline for full implementation was May 26, 2012.
Implementation Options
Three approaches exist:
- Ignore the requirement – risking future penalties
- Eliminate cookies entirely – impractical given technology dependencies
- Deploy a permission solution – the recommended path
Technical Solutions
Two main implementation approaches include popup notifications (often blocked by browsers) or accordion panels sliding from the page top. Solutions require developer implementation or self-installation using available free scripts.
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