Instead of clicking accept or decline on a cookie pop-up for every website you visit in Europe, the EU is preparing to implement rules that will allow users to set their preferences for cookies at the browser level. “People can set their privacy preferences centrally – for example through the browser – and websites must respect them,” the EU says. “This will significantly simplify users’ online experience.”
This key change is part of a new digital package of proposals to simplify the EU’s digital rules, and will initially see the change to cookie prompts as a simple yes or no single-click prompt, before a “technical fix” arrives in browsers. Websites will be required to respect cookie choices for at least six months, and the EU also requires website owners not to use cookie banners for “harmless use” such as counting website visits to reduce the amount of pop-ups.
The sheer volume of cookie pop-ups across Europe means that people often click on any button to access a website out of irritation rather than concern about their privacy. The European Commission says, “This is not a real option for citizens to protect their phones or computers and choose what happens to their data.” “Today’s proposal modernizes the ‘Cookies Rule’, with similar strong protections for devices, allowing citizens to decide which cookies are placed on their connected devices (such as phones or computers) and what happens to their data.”
The EU’s latest proposals will now be sent to the European Parliament. They will need to be approved by the EU’s 27 member states during a process that may take some time yet, but looks to be a big step closer to ending Europe’s cookie nightmare.