On December 18, 2012, the UK Information Commissioners' Office (ICO) issued an enforcement report on compliance with the rules regarding obtaining consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies.
North Americans accessing UK-based websites that are not distinguishing between IP addresses of EU visitors and North American users, may have noticed "cookie banners" when they visit the UK website. These "cookie banners" respond to the requirements of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive (Amendment) Regulations of 2011, which the UK Information Commissioner's Office began to enforce in May 2012. Typically the banner will appear at the top of the web page or float semi-transparently on the web page until closed by the visitor. The banner provides information on the use of cookies on the website, links to further information, including methods of opting out.
The ICO has helpfully provided examples of cookie banners that it considers to be compliant with the cookie rules.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) has made it clear in recent decisions and in its guidance on behavioural advertising that organizations must be transparent about their use of cookies and should consider alternative methods than privacy policies for explaining that cookies are being used, the purpose for their use and the ability of the website user to opt-out of tracking cookies. Although not yet in force, Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) provides that an organization must have express consent to install a computer program on a person's computer. A "computer program" has been defined broadly to include a cookie. An organization will be considered to have expressly consent if the person's conduct "is such that it is reasonable to believe" that the person has consented to the installation of the cookie.
Although the UK cookie rules are not directly applicable in Canada, organizations may consider reviewing the ICO's enforcement report when considering revising their cookie disclosure practices in light of the OPC's guidance and the requirements in CASL.
For more information, visit our Data Governance Law blog at www.datagovernancelaw.com
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