EU Cookie Directive

Recently the UK government has introduced a website cookie law. This came into effect on 26^th May 2011, with the deadline to make your website compliant on 26^th May 2012. It is stated that a website that is not-compliant could be fined up to £500,000.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files which websites place on visitors’ computers. They’re typically used to identify that particular visitor and provide them with a better experience. Cookies are a crucial part of many website functions which we take for granted.

For instance, it’s usually cookies which allow online shops to remember what items you have in your shopping trolley. They’re also used to keep you logged in to a website, or to provide valuable usage statistics and information to website owners.

If you run a website, the chances are that it uses cookies. Their most likely function is to monitor visitor numbers and behaviours through tools like Google Analytics. They may also be used to display relevant adverts to visitors, or – if you sell online – to power key parts of your online shopping system, or even if a customer can log in for whatever reason (e.g. to their account).

What action should you take?

In short, the new rules require websites to get permission from visitors before placing any cookies on their computer. Permission must be informed and overt, which means you have to ask visitors outright if you can put cookies on their computer, and explain clearly what the cookies are used for.

Even with the May deadline has gone by, hardly any websites have done anything obvious to comply with the cookie law. Many websites are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach.

The few which have begun seeking permission tend to use messages displayed at the top or bottom of the screen or overlaid on the website’s pages.

Even if you are unsure whether your site uses cookies or not, if you wish to take the safe option and 'do something' to show you've made an effort to comply with the law, we can install a tool onto your website which will give your site visitors a visual option to click a box/button to say they agree to the use of cookies on their computer for your website.

Identity use a number of tools to control cookies on your website. One of the main scripts used is the following: http://civicuk.com/cookie-law/index

The appearance of the cookie acceptance tool will mainly look like this (depending on your website solution variations may have to be implemented):

The box will disappear when they click "I am happy with this", leaving the triangle icon in the bottom-left corner, which will turn green if they accept. The above tab is the 'dark' option. There is also a 'light' option, where the tab's background is white with an orange border.

If they choose to ignore the notice, the tool should prevent cookies from being written to their computer, which subsequently may affect the functionality of your website for that particular user (until they click to agree to use of cookies).

The tool requires a link to your privacy policy on your website. If you do not have a privacy policy page already on your website, you will require that too (unless you have somewhere on one of your existing pages where it could be placed) - please also provide us with the text you wish to show to your site visitors if they wish to read your privacy policy. We can create this new page for you at an additional cost.

Call Us now on 0845 3885863 to make your site comply with the directive. This feature can be installed on ANY website.

*Please note that the above action is entirely your decision (the site owner). Identity Web Design Ltd cannot be held responsible for your website failing to comply with any laws. See our terms and conditions; there is also a working demo of the tool our site.