Most people (apart from me) find the EU Privacy Directive a little dull… but there’s no denying it is an important issue for all our clients. We’ve been helping some of our clients walk the fine line between compliance and commercial reality.

I believe in snake charming, Father Christmas, the Tooth Fairy and the Connected World.

When I research, check public opinion and arrange a holiday in an evening; when I use Skype for free to wish my kids goodnight when I’m away; when I transfer money instantly from one bank account to another; and when I can exchange ideas, thoughts and news with people I am connected to it feels like magic. Maybe it’s because I’m over 40 and remember clearly the inconvenience, expense and ineffectiveness of the alternatives. Whatever the reason, connectivity and all the apps and websites it has spawned have changed my life for the better.

This week I spoke to Graham Charlton from Econsultancy about the EU cookie laws and what businesses need to do in order to comply, without harming the user experience. You can read the full interview on Econsultancy’s website: Q&A: Foolproof’s Meriel Lenfestey on the EU cookie law (opens in new window)
 

Related articles

• EU Cookie Directive could make the web less accessible for all
• EU Cookie Directive and your users
• Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in new window)

 

In recent months we’ve been working with several corporations to develop compliant solutions to the new EU Privacy Directive ahead of its enforcement in May next year. Our research suggests that the Directive and associated advice is a blunt instrument, which could make the web less accessible for all, unless the ICO introduce more flexibility.

In short, the Directive requires online services – which make use of cookies or similar technologies – to gain informed consent from consumers before they can use them on their website (visit ICO guidance for more information and my previous blog EU Cookie Directive and your users). This poses a huge challenge for many businesses, especially those with hundreds of cookies across multiple domains.
 

I’m in the market for a camera. My last camera was a 35mm film SLR – that was 20 years ago. So I began my quest excited and reasonably well informed about photography. My enthusiasm was led by my imminent opportunity for artistic expression – not by technical wizardry. So I naively thought I’d make a fast choice and get going.

Cookies are technical solutions… but responding to the requirements of the EU E-Privacy Directive is not primarily a technical challenge. If organisations take steps to comply without due attention to the experience, the end users will go elsewhere.