UK websites need to ‘wake up’ to new EU cookie legislation
The Information Commissioner has warned that websites in the UK need to wake up to new EU legislation on accessing information on users’ computers.
Coming into force in May, new legislation stipulates that websites are required to obtain explicit consent from users before store or retrieve usage information such as cookies.
Commissioner Christopher Graham (pictured) stated that the new law, an amendment to the EU's Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive, provides “more choice and control” to users.
“While the roll out of this new law will be a challenge,” he said, “it will have positive benefits as it will give people more choice and control over what information businesses and other organisations can store on and access from consumers' own computers.”
“The directive will come into force in less than two months time and businesses and organisations running websites in the UK must wake up to the fact that this is happening. We are proactively working with the government, businesses and the public sector to find a workable solution.”
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is to be responsible for regulation of the new law, while the department for culture, media and sport will take the lead in implementing the new measures in the UK.
Ed Vaizey, minister for culture, communications and the creative industries, has said that the ICO will not take enforcement action in the short term as organisations work out how to address their use of cookies.