educational

EU Moves Ahead to Control Cookies

If you had to click “I accept” each time a site you visited tried to lay a cookie on you, would you? More than an academic question, such a requirement appears to be coming to U.K.-based websites on May 25, as they adopt the European e-Privacy directive.

How does this move affect website users, admins and affiliates?

This is a problem which will inevitably impact startups and lesser-known companies that may not enjoy a high-level of brand familiarity amongst consumers.

From the user’s perspective, the new requirements are intended to increase personal privacy, including revealing how behavioral tracking influences content and advertising. The cost of this newfound knowledge, however, will include endless legal boilerplate text and checkboxes standing between users and the web experience they’ve come to expect.

According to experts, the directive will impact the widespread use of cookies, such as those that remember a user’s login details as a means of speeding up their website access, with some common features no longer being offered by some sites, as well as a dramatic increase in the number of dialogue boxes and popup windows used to solicit the viewer’s explicit permission to let the website gather data on their visit.

This full disclosure of cookie use includes requiring disclaimers as to why a specific advertisement was shown — i.e. due to behavioral, geographic or other targeting means, as well as providing an easy opt-out mechanism.

The problems for site admins and owners are even more profound.

“It clearly makes U.K. companies less competitive because sites we build will need to be plastered with warnings — and our competitors will not,” Tweetmeme CEO Nick Halstead told TechCrunch. com. “It is a well known fact that at each stage of a signup process you lose customers.

“If you have to have a big warning sign just for a cookie that will remember you for purely convenience so that it keeps you logged in, the user won’t read that detail — they will just think you’re a privacy nightmare and won’t sign up.”

This is a problem which will inevitably impact startups and lesser-known companies that may not enjoy a high-level of brand familiarity amongst consumers.

It may also be a major problem for affiliates, many of whom depend on cookie-based code tracking to ensure proper referral crediting — and thus, their income.

Acknowledging that the new directive will “cause uncertainty for businesses and consumers,” Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries minister Ed Vaizey emphatically stated that “we do not expect the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to take enforcement action in the short term against businesses and organizations as they work out how to address their use of Internet cookies.”

Information Commissioner Christopher Graham warned website owners against interpreting this stance as a reason for inaction or non-compliance, however, stating that “My message is that this is not your ‘get out of jail free’ card.”

“[Website owners] have to think seriously about this,” Graham added. “It’s really going to happen and it’s the law.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Know When to Drop Domains You Don't Need

Do you own too many domains? If so, you’re not alone. Like other things we accumulate, every registered domain means something to us. Sometimes a domain represents a dream project we have always wanted to do but have never quite gotten around to.

Juicy Jay ·
opinion

Understanding 'Indemnification' in Business Contracts

Clients frequently tell me that they didn’t understand — or sometimes, even read — certain portions of a contract because those sections appeared to be just “standard legalese.” They are referring, of course, to the specialized language used in legal documents, including contracts.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

5 Steps to Make Card Brand Compliance Easy

It’s February, the month of love. Just once, wouldn’t it be great to receive a little candy heart asking you to “Be Mine” instead of more forms to fill out and documents to submit? Of course, regulatory compliance does have one important thing in common with romance: Fail to put in the work, and your relationship is likely over — your relationship with the card brands, that is.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Protecting Your Business With a Data Backup Strategy That Works

If the subject of backups sounds boring to you, maybe this will grab your attention: Without properly implemented backups, your business is vulnerable to partial or even catastrophic data loss, which could screw your company and tank your income.

Brad Mitchell ·
profile

WIA Profile: Paulita Pappel

Raised in Spain, surrounded by a predominantly Catholic community, Paulita Pappel grew up being told porn was bad. When she became a feminist, she was told her fascination with porn was not in line with her desire to empower women. This inner conflict made her feel like there was something wrong with her.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Complying With New Age Assurance and Content Moderation Standards

For adult companies operating in today’s increasingly regulated digital landscape, maintaining compliance with card brand requirements is essential — not only to safeguard your operations but also to ensure a safe and transparent environment for users.

Gavin Worrall ·
opinion

Understanding the FTC's New 'Click to Cancel' Rule

The Federal Trade Commission’s new “Click to Cancel” rule has been a hot topic in consumer protection and business regulation. Part of a broader effort to streamline cancellation processes for subscription services, the rule has sparked significant debate and legal challenges.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Key Factors for Choosing a Merchant Services Partner

Running a successful adult business requires more than just delivering alluring and cutting-edge products and services. Securing the right payment processing partner is essential to maintaining a steady revenue stream.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Identifying and Preventing Transaction Laundering

Recently, a few merchants approached me after receiving compliance notifications from their acquirer about transaction laundering. They were unsure what it meant, and unsure how to identify and fix the problem.

Cathy Beardsley ·
profile

WIA: Alexis Fawx Levels Up as Multifaceted Entrepreneur

As more performers look to diversify, expanding their range of revenue streams and promotional vehicles, some are spreading their entrepreneurial wings to create new businesses — including Alexis Fawx.

Women In Adult ·
Show More