The European Commission wants to simplify the use of cookies on websites. It is considering the removal of cookie banners, which are mostly seen as annoying. Visitors often click on consent, without knowing what they are consenting to.
Since 2009, European websites and online stores need to get active consent from visitors for the use of cookies, which they do with cookie banners. Only functional cookies are exempt from this rule. However, according to the European Commission, that system has proven ineffective.
As visitors mindlessly click away cookie banners without considering the content, there is a resulting flood of consent. This does not strengthen data protection, nor increase transparency. Rather, these cookie banners have caused frustration for visitors as well as website owners.
Preferences saved in one place
Because of that, the European Commission is now working on changing the cookie rules. One of the proposals is centralized place where users can set their cookie preferences once, via their browser settings for example That way, users do not repeatedly need to select cookies each time they visit a website.
Statistical cookies could become exempted from the consent requirement
The EU Commission is also proposing that statistical cookies, which do not process personal data, could be exempted from the consent requirement. This reduces the amount of required consents.
Bigger problem than annoying banners
However, there has been some criticism about the proposed reform. While it can improve user experience, it does not solve the problem of online surveillance. Data protection advocates worry that when cookie banners are removed, privacy protection will not be improved in this reform. That is why they are demanding a more comprehensive approach to ensuring data protection.