Title:
How will the new law on cookies affect internet browsing?
Subject:
The use of cookies by sites will become restricted
Web
Address:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/13/new-law-cookies-affect-internet-browsing
Date:
13 April 2012
 |
| Sadly, not this kind of cookie |
Summary:
Many sites use cookies, these monitor
your behaviour and until now they did not have to ask or explain why.
This is about to change: a new law is being proposed where every site
has to justify their use of cookies, and must ask the user first.
Sites use cookies to gain information, not really on you as a person,
but you as a user. Cookies monitor your actions and report them back,
this way owners of the site can see what works, what does not, and
what advertisements gain more attention then others. These cookies
are however only the tip of the iceberg: there are many other ways
sites use to gain information.
Opinion:
I think it is good
that these kind of privacy invading acts are finally put to
attention. I do think however they should be more thorough, there are
many other ways that sites gain information without asking, or
perhaps more specifically: without the user realizing. For example,
making an account at a site already gives the site access to do these
things. Also, advertising will become more random. Now because of the
cookies sites place advertisements that, based on your actions, they
think would interest you. This way they can ask higher prices and
avoid targeting the wrong audience. Still, I think giving people the
choice whether or not they want to share their information is a good
thing.
It is true that people do not realise what kind of information is in the hands of the companies that run the websites they visit. The point is: Is this their problem or the companies’? You have to consider that people might just be too stupid to deal with this information. Privacy abuse has been part of the Internet since the beginning. People just do not want to make the effort of using websites as an anonymous consumer. They like the convenience cookies bring them and do not really want to think about the other side of the coin.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI like cookies, the crumbly kind. Internet cookies not so much, sure the internet remembering my passwords is usefull but the whole getting personalized advertisements kind of creeps me out. I'm done with all those penile enlargement products showing up everywhere I go on the internet.
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