EU directive - sites must prompt users to accept cookies.

[Pappa]

Cookies: Majority of government sites to miss deadline

Ahead of a nationwide deadline over regulating the use of cookies, the BBC has learned that the "majority" of the UK government's own websites will fail to comply in time.

All UK sites have been given until 26 May to make sure visitors are able to give "informed consent" over cookies.

Cookies are pieces of personal data stored when users browse the web.

The Cabinet Office said the government was "working to achieve compliance at the earliest possible date".

Once the new rules take force, consent will most likely be obtained by ticking a "yes" box when visiting a site - although other approaches have been suggested.

The regulations are designed to protect user privacy when using the web.

Continues:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18090118

Hey, here's an idea.... instead of an EU-wide directive forcing all site owners to add procedures that will increase users' paranoia about cookies, why not have a cheap public information campaign explaining what cookies are and how easy it is to decline them in your browser?

[PsychoSerenity]

Hey, here's an idea.... instead of an EU-wide directive forcing all site owners to add procedures that will increase users' paranoia about cookies, why not have a cheap public information campaign explaining what cookies are and how easy it is to decline them in your browser?

Can't do that. That would be sensible.

[Clinton Huxley]

And, apparently, all the cookies have to be banana shaped.

[Thinking Aloud]

Oh the joys of net surfing in the near future.

"This site uses cookies for every useful feature, such as keeping you logged in, marking pages you've read, locating your position in the ordering process, and so on. Please tick OK to the following 25 alert boxes if you wish to accept each cookie. Please note this website probably won't work if you say 'no' to any of them, and you certainly won't be able to complete any purchase transactions.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, this was mandated by your unelected, and woefully internet-ignorant European overlords."

[Clinton Huxley]

Maybe if we renamed "cookies" as "biscuits" there wouldn't be such a fuss?

[Pappa]

Apparently shopping carts will be exempt.

[Thinking Aloud]

Apparently shopping carts will be exempt.

But not phpbb forums or anything else like that...

[Clinton Huxley]

Apparently shopping carts will be exempt.

But not phpbb forums or anything else like that...

Could you not have a "one time consent" for something like this place? Maybe when people first sign up?

[Pappa]

Apparently shopping carts will be exempt.

But not phpbb forums or anything else like that...

Could you not have a "one time consent" for something like this place? Maybe when people first sign up?

The ICO is suggesting that's how it should be done. They have a really awkwardly worded one on their own site.

[Pappa]

BT's one reads a bit weird too.

[klr]

Apparently shopping carts will be exempt.

... because that would reck eCommerce from end to end. Good to see they have some sense at least.

Thankfully, for the web applications that I've developed, I haven't used cookies in many a year.