ICO: Cookie rules changes to affect businesses
Businesses must be aware of new rules around cookie use coming into force at the end of May, the information commissioner has said.
Changes to the EU Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive coming into force on 25 May will mean UK businesses will have to get consent to store or access information on users' computers, information commissioner Christopher Graham said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We are clear that these changes must not have a detrimental impact on consumers nor cause an unnecessary burden on UK businesses," said Graham. "One option being considered is to allow consent to the use of cookies to be given via browser settings."
The government has consulted on the use of cookies, with the consultation results due to be published at the end of April, leaving businesses with only a month to prepare for the incoming regulations.
Culture minister Ed Vaizey said that the government would not expect the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) to take action against businesses that could show they were making efforts to comply with the new regulations.
"The government is clear that it will take time for meaningful solutions to be developed, evaluated and rolled out," said Vaizey. "We recognise this could cause uncertainty for businesses and consumers. Therefore we do not expect the ICO to take enforcement action in the short term against businesses and organisations as they work out how to address their use of cookies."
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) spokesman told ZDNet UK that the government wouldn't miss the 25 May deadline to implement the revised regulations, but that the ICO would not pursue businesses that showed they were making an effort to comply with the regulations.
"There is more work that needs to be done on technical solutions," said the spokesman. "It's a case of working with browser manufacturers to enhance settings... [and] the Internet Advertising Bureau is working to address cookie use in behavioural advertising."