The publishing industry has breathed a collective huge sigh of relief following the publication of the Data (Use & Access) Bill, backing the decision to ditch a previously tabled proposal on online cookies which could have wiped out millions of pounds in revenue.
PPA chief executive Sajeeda Merali (pictured) says the trade body’s public affairs team has long called for the removal of previously tabled Regulation 6B, which she claims “would have had a significant commercial impact” on the sector.
Merali explained: “If Regulation 6B had become UK law, it would have assigned powers to the Government to centralise all cookie consent with browsers such as Google Chrome which would have inhibited publishers for whom data collection is an integral part of their business.
“Publishers have a unique and trusted relationship with their audiences who allow them to collect cookie data to deliver high quality, reader sensitive and relevant content.
“This provision would have overridden the existing cookie consent relationship between audience and publisher, affecting the audience experience and suppressing growth of the magazine media industry.”
The PPA has now joined the DMA in backing the new Bill.
Merali concluded: “We fully support data protection measures that allow businesses to flourish and consumer protection and will continue to work closely with the Government as this Bill progresses to ensure our members can deliver a quality product to audiences in a way they want it.”
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