over 5 years ago Just 23% of web users would say yes to cookies

Websites applying opt-in consent mechanisms to comply with the EU E-privacy directive will have a hard time convincing users to accept cookies, as just 23% of respondents said they would be happy to say yes to cookies. 

One major issue with this directive is public awareness of what cookies are and what they do. Suddenly, web users will be seeing messages about cookies all over the place, accompanied with references to tracking, privacy etc. 

There is a need for education about cookies and online privacy in general, but that very process may be a turn off for many users. 

To gauge possible public reaction to the implementation of cookie compliance measures, we conducted an online survey, using the Toluna Quick survey tool. 

The survey accompanies the launch of our new report, The EU Cookie Law: A guide to compliance, which looks at how businesses can adapt to the directive. 

The results suggest that businesses have a lot of persuading to do in order to convey the benefits of the cookies they use on their websites, and to persuade users to opt-in, or at least not to opt-out. 

over 5 years ago 82% of digital marketers think the EU cookie law is bad for the web

While most digital marketers are making at least some preparations for the implementations of the EU's e-Privacy Directive, the vast majority see it as a negative step for the web.

Econsultancy has surveyed more than 700 marketers for their opinions on the EU cookie laws, and to find out what preparations have been made for the May 26 deadline. 

We have published the full results of our EU e-Privacy Directive Survey for you to download, but here are some of the highlights from the study. 

(UPDATE, 18 April 2012: Our new report, The EU Cookie Law: A Guide to Compliance, explains the legislation as far as it affects UK online businesses, sets out some practical steps that you can take towards compliance, and includes examples of how websites can gain users’ consent for setting cookies. Do check it out.)

over 5 years ago EU cookie law: three approaches to compliance

We've covered the impending EU 'cookie law' a number of times on this blog, but we've yet to see many practical examples of implementation. 

There are exceptions, such as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) website, which has to set an example (though even this isn't enough to comply), but most are being kept under wraps. 

This is because online businesses are not going to add any interruptive messaging to their sites until the last possible moment, and perhaps not before they've seen what their rivals are doing about it. 

I've been speaking to 4Ps Marketing CTO Matt Stannard, who has kindly provided these mock ups of how some popular sites could choose to comply with the EU directive.

(UPDATE, 18 April 2012: Our new report, The EU Cookie Law: A Guide to Compliance, explains the legislation as far as it affects UK online businesses, sets out some practical steps that you can take towards compliance, and includes examples of how websites can gain users’ consent for setting cookies. Do check it out.)