More interesting legal stuff

Is that the way the cookie crumbles

When I read an article about cookies, it was about 11 o'clock and had my cup of tea but no biscuits and i got a bit hungry. So what's new you ask! Well, the cookies the article centered on, were not those that you eat, but the ones that dictate/control information sorted on your pc/laptop/ipad (if you are a lucky 4N winner) or android phone/blackberry. There have been recent changes to the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations 2003 which state that cookies can only be placed on machines where the user has given consent. There is an exception where the cookie is what is called "strictly necessary" for the service requested by the user. Appparently the ICO has powers to issue fines of up to £500,000 for misuse and breach of this new law. I am given to understand that the ICO will not look to implement this immediately but there will be an enforcement mechanism in place which will look to kick in sometime around May 2012. So if you are in the business of cookies (making pc ones not the ones you eat) you need to be aware of this new law and its potential impact for you and your business.