Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ How Should UK Universities Respond to EU Cookie Legislation?

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community
The EU's Privacy and Communications Directive comes into force today with one of the major directives concerning cookies. As Brian Kelly notes, "This requires user's consent before using cookies – the text files which are used for various purposes including storing browsing information." Many sites - and pretty much every institutional site - uses cookies routinely. This leads to a problem implementing the law: "One problem sites are wrestling with if the ICO insists on enforcement is a catch-22 where if people choose not to accept cookies, then sites will have to keep asking them if they want to accept cookies – because they will not be able to set a cookie indicating their preference."

On this website I face no such contradiction. The software assumes that each visitor is an anonymous entity - Anymouse - and unless directed otherwise loads the personal profile for that entity. No cookie required. Cookies will be set only if a person registers, and are reset only if they log in again. The registration page links to a privacy page that outlines, among other things, our use of cookies. I think the presumption of anonymity is important and have always supported the right to post anonymous comments on this website. So I'm pretty sure I comply with the EU regulations, but if I don't, I'm sure the EU will take the time to tell me.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Nov 22, 2024 10:45 a.m.

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