Web site owners -- cookies -- The EU rules?

[Kym]

http://www.davidnaylor.co.uk/eu-cook...s-for-you.html

(For owners of vBulletin https://www.vbulletin.com/forum/show...55#post2284755 )

Simply, unless a site says what it will do with cookies you cant use them.

And if it's a tracking cookie then there must be an opt-out.

So if you use (say) Google ad-sense you may have issues.

AP has it covered by our rules and privacy statement; and if push came to shove we would block all of the EU at the firewall level

[Kym]

Update:

http://www.ico.gov.uk/%7E/media/docu...egulations.pdf

Does this consent rule apply to every type of cookie?
The only exception to this rule is if what you are doing is ‘strictly necessary’ for a service requested by the user. This exception is a narrow one but might apply, for example, to a cookie you use to ensure that when a user of your site has chosen the goods they wish to buy and clicks the ‘add to basket’ or ‘proceed to checkout’ button, your site ‘remembers’ what they chose on a previous page. You would not need to get consent for this type of activity.
This exception needs to be interpreted quite narrowly because the use of the phrase “strictly necessary” means its application has to be limited to a small range of activities and because your use of the cookie must be related to the service requested by the user. Indeed, the relevant recital in the Directive on which these Regulations are based refers to services “explicitly requested” by the user. As a result our interpretation of this exception therefore has to bear in mind the narrowing effect of the word “explicitly”. The exception would not apply, for example, just because you have decided that your website is more attractive if you remember users’ preferences or if you decide to use a cookie to collect statistical information about the use of your website.

FYI

AP uses cookies to manage your session and remember some settings like ad-hoc skin changes.
Cookies are also used so you can auto-login (if you use the remember me function).
Do not use remember me and ensure you logout and close the browser if using AP from a public PC (eg. library or 'net cafe).

AP does not use tracking or marketing cookies or services like Google Analytics.

AP Privacy Policy

[Kym]

Update 2:

http://www.openglobal.co.uk/articles...directive.html

So who is going to comply with this legislation? Well, given that at least 99% of websites do not completely comply with the European E-commerce Directive, the Companies Act, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Data Protection Act, it is pretty safe to say that almost nobody will make any effort whatsoever to comply with this new legislation. Especially when you consider that it is trivially easy to comply with the previous legislation and this new cookie legislation is just an incomprehensible shambles.
However, the ICO have said that "Those who choose to do nothing will have their lack of action taken into account" and the the maximum penalty for failing to comply is £500,000.
However, the ICO has a 29 year history of not enforcing any laws it was set up to enforce.
The ICO has updated their vague guidance document and it is still just as vague as the previous guidance. They are still simply saying that the existing browser technology (which prevents cookies from being stored without visitors' consent) is not enough.
It is becoming blatantly obvious that they just want to pass the responsibility of resolving this onto the courts system once somebody actually gets prosecuted for it.

[ameerat42]

Hmm! Sage advice?
Better Cookies Menu
1. The usual ingredients.
2. Some sage.
3. Some good advice.

Method
1. Stir mixture until addled. (Note: not too long.)
2. Bake until too hard to digest.

Serves nobody.

Cookies! Trick-or-tripe! What next?
m