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25 Apr 2001

Dear Dr Ecommerce

Earlier today, I was told that the EU is considering implementing legislation which would outlaw the use of cookies by internet sites. This was news to me and many other people. Is this the case, or has someone got the wrong end of the stick?

Charles

Dear Charles:

I put your question to Elina Kaartinen, E-Policy News editor, who answers...

"Someone has got the wrong end of the stick."

Elina goes on to say...

"The only on-going possibly related legislative proposal is the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector Com(2000)385

However this proposed directive does not deal with cookies but unsolicited e-mails. It proposes to prohibit these e-mails (for direct marketing purposes) unless the subscriber has consented to receive such messages."

Good luck,

Dr. Ecommerce