Europe Wants to Cut Down on Annoying GDPR Cookie Pop-Ups

[MacRumors]

The European Commission (EC) today announced a new digital package that relaxes some of the rules implemented with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that has protected European consumers since 2018.

Part of the change to the GDPR includes a modernization of cookie rules that should result in fewer pop-up cookie agreements on websites. The EC says that users will be able to indicate their cookie consent with a single click, with those preferences saved through the central settings of preferences in browsers and operating systems.

It sounds like browser makers will need to have a GDPR toggle that informs websites of a user's preference, eliminating the need for users to consent to cookies on a site-by-site basis.

In addition to changing GDPR cookie requirements, the EC's proposal allows personal data to be used to train AI without express consent, simplifies cybersecurity reporting, improves access to data through simplified rules, and more, with full details available in the European Commission's press release. It also delays the implementation of parts of the Artificial Intelligence Act, giving companies a longer period to comply with the rules.

Critics of the changes suggest that the EC is watering down the GDPR and rolling back consumer protections. European Digital Rights (EDRi) said that the EC's changes risk "dismantling the very foundation of human rights and tech policy in the EU."

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: Europe Wants to Cut Down on Annoying GDPR Cookie Pop-Ups

 

[jz0309]

Yea, about time to clean up the mess they created

 

[breather]

Those pop ups are really annoying but it’s great to give us the choice about cookies, privacy is important.
I’d rather deal with the pop ups then relax the privacy aspect.

But it would be nice if there was another solution, maybe cookies has played out its role and it’s time for something else?

 

[Omega Mac]

Isn't this why I installed uBlock Origin Lite extension!? 😂

Gee maybe while we're at it we'll get the magical non-existent existent EU borders closed as a bonus, no extension for that sadly.

 

[klasma]

Note that this is only a proposal by the Commission at this stage.

 

[iPrabhu]

Its about time to stop those annoying cookie preference pop-ups. Websites try quirky ways to draw everyone into accepting all the cookies, with intentionally having bigger 'Accept All' buttons, unrecognizable toggle buttons, etc.

At the same time, we don't to loose the restriction on privacy though.

 

[Moonjumper]

All that is needed is a requirement for the consent dialogue to be simple and clear, not having many options, especially across multiple tabs.

And that proposal for AI use without express consent is awful.

 

[Nermal]

Yea, about time to clean up the mess they created

To be fair, the companies/websites created the mess. They chose to pop up the messages instead of choosing not to track their users.

 

[tuckerjj]

Is this a very clever joke, because it only seems to be happening when I click on this one story link?!

 

[Corefile]

I wish GDPR protected Americans too.

 

[iZac]

I use DuckDuckGo on my iPhone and it auto-rejects those cookie pop-ups for me. Also gets rid of a lot of Adsense stuff. I really should use it on my Mac too

 

[CocktailHour]

Needed.

 

[Ctrlos]

It’s worth a reminder that the original diktat was that websites had to ask permission to collect cookies, therefore the pop-ups were down to individual sites whether they showed them or not. Websites decided to show them.

The EU should have gone one further and completely banned cookies and web tracking altogether. Ad agencies can do one. In the old days of magazines you’d just aim an ad at an area of general interest. It’s not hard to work out that users of a Mac website such as this might want a new mouse or web browser for example. You don’t need to track anyone for that.

 

[SilmarilFinder]

Is this a very clever joke, because it only seems to be happening when I click on this one story link?!

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Happened to me and when I turn of the Hush (the extension) it is fine now

 

[Nermal]

The EU should have gone one further and completely banned cookies and web tracking altogether.

Tracking, yes, but I don't agree with banning cookies entirely as they can be useful. For example, it's because of cookies that you don't need to log into these very forums every time you want to post.

 

[germanbeer007]

EU wants to cut down on the problem THEY CAUSED. JFC

 

[Unregistered 4U]

“EU wants to cut down on the pop ups they regulated into being. Almost guaranteed to end up regulating something even worse into being as they don’t seem to learn from any of the ‘unintended consequences’ they cause.”

 

[germanbeer007]

To be fair, the companies/websites created the mess. They chose to pop up the messages instead of choosing not to track their users.

Hard disagree. EU is the one that created the mess. They should have anticipated the consequences.

That's like not allowing any security cameras in stores to record customers without their consent. What did you think is going to happen? Clearly they're going to have to ask every customer to manually press "yes" to open the entrance. EU saying "well it's not our fault you want to record customers".

 

[Unregistered 4U]

All that is needed is a requirement for the consent dialogue to be simple and clear, not having many options, especially across multiple tabs.

They’ll likely claim making the consent dialog simple and clear (like the very truthful “We’re going to use this data to track you across websites and applications”) would be creepy/scary to people.

 

[germanbeer007]

Those pop ups are really annoying but it’s great to give us the choice about cookies, privacy is important.
I’d rather deal with the pop ups then relax the privacy aspect.

1. speak for yourself.
2. EU should have anticipated this and required browsers to build in by standard a cookie permission system where any user can auto-allow tracking cookies to be accepted. Next to zero dev work by engineers and users aren't hindered.

 

[germanbeer007]

Yea, about time to clean up the mess they created

preach! this clearly shows EU has no idea what they're doing.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

Except for the cookie part, the rest is totally unacceptable. It seems designed by the tech corporations themselves. I can only assume that people favorable to their interests (or paid by them) have inflitrated the EC.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

„The European Union is like communism: it bravely fights the problems it created itself.”

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

1. speak for yourself.
2. EU should have anticipated this and required browsers to build in by standard a cookie permission system where any user can auto-allow tracking cookies to be accepted. Next to zero dev work by engineers and users aren't hindered.

Some users (like you) will be glad about the cookie part, but others (including myself) would rather continue with a site-by-site permission pop-up, because not all websites are equal. Many sites can be trusted right away (your bank, the government, your local supermarket, etc.), but with others one has to be more cautious. Privacy breaches and frauds are rampant nowadays, and if anything, one needs to be more cautious, not less.
This move from the EC follows its DMA requirements that forces Apple to open up its systems and may expose users to increased security risks. Though a europhile, I don't like the direction the EC is taking recently.

 

[Octavius8]

99% websites: "click accept all or leave".
Is that really a choice??. How about "I dont want to accept, but still enter the site"