The Information Commissioner has given organisations and businesses that run websites aimed at UK consumers up to 12 months to ‘get their house in order’ before enforcement of a new EU “cookies” law.
A “cookie” is a common technique of storing information on a user’s computer - a small file that a website puts on a user’s computer so that it can remember something, such as the user’s preferences, at a later time. Cookies are used for a wide variety of reasons – from analysing browsing habits to remembering payment details when buying products online.
The UK government has revised the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, with effect from 26 May, 2011, to address new EU requirements. The Regulations provide that UK businesses and organisations running websites in the UK need to get consent from visitors to their websites in order to store cookies on users’ computers. As the independent arbiter of information rights, the Information Commissioner has been given responsibility for regulating the new rules for websites aimed at UK consumers.
At Birkett Long we can prepare or review website terms of use and privacy policies to ensure that both the existing data protection rules and the new consent requirement for cookies are complied with. If you operate a website aimed at UK consumers we strongly recommend that you seek a review of your terms and privacy policies to ensure that you ‘get your house in order’. Please contact Andrea Curtis on andrea.curtis@birkettlong.co.uk
