Client marketing trade body ISBA has used a U-turn by the Dutch on plans to seek prior consent for online cookie collection to urge greater co-operation between European countries on privacy issues.
The bureaucratic Dutch rules have been abandoned following a campaign by the World Federation of Advertisers, in which ‘consumer unfriendliness’ was highlighted as a primary concern.
It means the country now falls in line with the UK and much of Europe by adopting an ‘implied consent’ policy to cookies.
ISBA claims the U-turn reflects a growing sentiment in Europe about the impractical and stifling side effects of excessive data protection regimes.
The trade body says this is even more pressing considering the threat posed by the draft EU Data Protection Regulation, currently moving through the European Parliament. ISBA has added its voice to concerns that the proposals could have similarly damaging consequences.
ISBA public affairs director Ian Twinn (pictured) said: “Making web users know their data is safe and secure online is an important part of society’s growing interaction with the digital world, but over-regulation of the Internet has its costs.
“These over strict interpretations of the law would have resulted in the persistent badgering of Internet users for explicit permission to accept cookies, discouraging a thriving online consumer culture which is responsible for our burgeoning digital economy.”
Twinn reiterated the importance of working with European partners to ensure that the right balance of security and prosperity was struck in ongoing talks with the Commission.