EU “Cookie law” FAQ

What is the “Cookie Law”?

The term “Cookie Law” is the common name given to a portion of new laws within the European Union.  The original directive, officially known as 2009/136/EC, was recently amended to include additional language regarding how information is gathered from web users via the use of cookies. On May 26, 2011, all member states within the European Union (EU) are required to have laws in place to comply with what’s been termed “the EU cookie law.” 

What happened on May 26th?

Not much.  While the deadline for compliance was May 26, 2011, only Estonia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom somewhat complied.  The remaining 24 member states have yet to publish any guidance. 

What is the impact on me or my company?

It is impossible to know with certainty what effect new EU cookie regulations will have on European performance marketing and e-commerce. We recommend that you contact your legal counsel for specifics regarding your company and the laws and regulations it faces within the European Union. 

What is a “cookie”?

By definition, a cookie is a bit of text that is stored on a user’s computer.  Once deployed, a cookie can remember your login information (a “remember me” function), help personalize the web page functions you prefer (the U.S. edition versus the international edition of cnn.com), or what items you’ve placed into a site’s shopping cart for purchase.  There are two types of cookies:  session cookies and persistent cookies – both of which have legitimate purposes in supporting ecommerce.

Does this effect DirectTrack?

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office is the first official member-state specific organization to issue guidance.  The ICO states that those cookies that are “strictly necessary” to providing a service are exempt from the new rules.  DRT believes that the cookies used in the application of our directTrack software may fall within the “strictly necessary” guidelines, but we won’t know until more information and guidance is released.

What is the European Union?

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states which are located primarily in Europe

How do I know whether my business practices are legal based on this new directive?

The information provided by Digital Response Technologies is intended for informational purposes only.  Each member state within the European Union may enact different laws.  Any company or person affected by these laws should contact their legal counsel for specific information related to these new laws. 

We will continue to publish additional materials regarding this very important issue.

For questions specific questions about DirectTrack, or to learn how our customizable solutions can keep you compliant, call 1-866-773-4460.

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