Consent to be required for cookies? (updated 2011-03-15 and 2011-05-11 and 2011-05-17)

An amendment to the EU Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive comes into effect on 25 May 2011. This makes it necessary to obtain consent before storing and retrieving usage information on users’ computers. Details are unclear, mainly because the UK government has apparently yet to publicise any information on how this requirement will be implemented in the UK, but in the limit it could require every web site to obtain informed user consent before setting any cookies, which is going to be interesting...

Here are some external references to the topic:

• Out-Law.com
• Information Commissioner
• JISCLegal
• LocalGovermentLawyer
• Google Analytics Support Forum

Updated 2011-03-15: More links

• BBC News
• Sitepoint
• David Naylor (with helpful demonstration of best practice :-)
• Andrew Cormack's blog
• Out-LAw.com (again)

Updated 2011-05-11:

• Guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office (2011-05-09)
• DCMS Press Release (2011-04-15)

Updated 2011-05-17:

• Andrew Cormack's blog (again) (2011-05-12)