cookies | Internet Marketing Blog

Cookie enforcement can make tracking more acceptable for users

New data shows that in the UK, increased awareness of and engagement with robust privacy controls on websites have resulted in lower opt-out rates.

Four months after the UK 'cookie law' deadline, data suggests that the enforcement process, accompanied by a burst of compliance by businesses, as well as a high degree of media attention, is yielding positive results.

In short, it seems that the more people understand how they’re being tracked on websites, and the more control they’re given, the more comfortable they are with tracking.

by Scott Meyer 30 October 2012 15:15pm 5 comments

ICO: implied cookie consent was always valid

Just before we reached the EU cookie law 'deadline' on May 26, the ICO issued updated guidance for compliance, which expanded on the notion of implied consent.

This was met with anger by some who saw this as a last minute changing of the goalposts, so I caught up with the ICO's Dave Evans to ask about this.

He also talks about how the Information Commissioner will judge the 'success' of its implementation of the EU e-Privacy directive and why sites should be open with users.

by Graham Charlton 06 June 2012 12:07pm 9 comments

IE10 to have 'Do Not Track' turned on by default

Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled to the world its Windows 8 Release Preview. The release will be the last before Microsoft ships Windows 8 later this year.

The Release Preview contained plenty for industry observers and the curious to digest. There are performance improvements, more apps, better support for multiple monitors and so on and so forth.

by Patricio Robles 01 June 2012 16:35pm 4 comments

Even the EU can't comply with its own cookie law

If ibuprofen sales are up in the EU this year, it might have something to do with the nightmare known as the EU cookie law.

For major companies operating in affected countries, the solution to the problem has been, well, to find a solution to the problem. And for good reason: with the possibility of enforcement action, few businesses can afford not to address the law.

But apparently the EU itself can't be bothered with complying with its own rules.

by Patricio Robles 29 May 2012 15:09pm 2 comments

What are retailers doing about the cookie law?

The cookie law deadline arrived on Saturday, and we haven't quite seen the pop-up apocalypse that some had predicted.

This may have had something to do with the ICO's last-minute revision of its guidance, but its more likely that many simply aren't prepared to risk harming their business models when it's unclear how the law will be enforced.

While news websites like the BBC and Mirror have added some sort of status bar or pop-up, retailers have taken a different approach to compliance.

(I'm certainly not looking to 'out' websites here, so I'll be looking only at those which have taken some action).

by Graham Charlton 29 May 2012 13:01pm 6 comments

10 interesting digital marketing stats we've seen this week

I've rounded up some of the most interesting digital marketing stats I've seen this week.

Topics covered include the use of tablets and other devices while watching TV, search marketing budgets, mobile payments and Google+.

by Graham Charlton 25 May 2012 12:48pm 3 comments

The BBC unveils its EU cookie law solution

The ICO's one year amnesty on enforcement of the EU e-Privacy Directive ends tomorrow, and a few more sites have been rolling out their compliance solutions.

BBC.co.uk launched its cookie info banner yesterday, while Channel 4, The Guardian and the Telegraph have today.

The four approaches are all very different...

by Graham Charlton 25 May 2012 09:36am 23 comments

The EU cookie law conundrum in numbers [Infographic]

With the deadline for compliance with the EU e-Privacy Directive just two days away, we've rounded up some of the key stats in an infographic.

This embeddable infographic looks at marketers' and consumers' views of the EU cookie law, and our five-step plan for compliance.

This is a topic we've covered in detail, so I've also rounded up some of our recent articles and other resources on the EU cookie law.

by Graham Charlton 24 May 2012 13:09pm 17 comments

The Mirror's response to EU cookie law compliance

With just a few days left before the ICO begins to enforce the EU e-Privacy Directive, we are starting to see a few sites unveiling their approaches to compliance.

Two such sites are FT.com and Mirror Online, which are both using pop-ups to alert visitors to the sites' use of cookies.

As well as taking a look at the two news sites' responses to the EU directive, I've been asking Malcolm Coles, Product Director, digital at Trinity Mirror Group, about the Mirror's approach.

by Graham Charlton 23 May 2012 10:34am 29 comments

How will the new “cookie” tracking regulations affect email?

The new e-Privacy Directive which came into force last May has spurred some exciting dialogue in the online marketing world. The Directive has been called many things (some not so polite) but one of the few certainties about it, is its confusing and unclear language.

The ICO, in an attempt to turn it into something people can work with, has produced a number of guidance documents to help online marketers. This has mostly (and unsurprisingly) been written with websites in mind, although it has become clear that the Directive could affect other types of online activity as well.

Email marketing is one of those “other types” and plays a key part in the marketing efforts of most online marketers and e-commerce businesses. The questions most online marketers are now asking; how will email be affected and how can we work towards complying with the regulations?

by Tim Roe 17 May 2012 10:47am 3 comments