Liz Gannes

Recent Posts by Liz Gannes

Eat Your Cookies: EU Privacy Directive Takes Effect Wednesday

New European Union privacy regulations that require Web sites to get consent from EU users before tracking them around the rest of the Web will go into effect Wednesday. The directive is aimed at cookies used for targeted advertising, and applies to companies operated in any country.

However, many EU countries have yet to create laws based on the directive, which was originally legislated in 2009, and it’s not clear how aggressively various governments will enforce opt-in cookies.

“Confusion and uncertainty” is how Dennis Dayman, chief privacy and security for Eloqua–a marketing automation provider that’s supplying tools to help Web sites offer data capture choices–described the situation. He noted that what makes things even harder is that requirements will vary from country to country.

“Do-Not-Track” laws, which would require options for consumers to opt out of online data collection, are also being discussed in the United States. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D., W.Va.) this month proposed the Do-Not-Track Online Act of 2011, which would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission if it passes.

California State Sen. Alan Lowenthal proposed a similar law in California earlier this year. Google, Facebook, AOL, Yahoo and various advertising and retail companies have submitted formal opposition to the California bill, arguing that all four major browsers already offer users options to filter their own Web use.

Image via Flickr user melissacorey.

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Just as the atom bomb was the weapon that was supposed to render war obsolete, the Internet seems like capitalism’s ultimate feat of self-destructive genius, an economic doomsday device rendering it impossible for anyone to ever make a profit off anything again. It’s especially hopeless for those whose work is easily digitized and accessed free of charge.

— Author Tim Kreider on not getting paid for one’s work