Kill The Cookie Banner (killthecookiebanner.eu)

Article summary

The EU Commission has proposed a solution to the cookie banner problem by introducing automated signals that communicate users' privacy preferences between devices and websites or apps. This would allow users to set their preferences once and avoid seeing cookie banners. The tracking industry is pushing back against this proposal, fearing it could result in lower consent rates for tracking. The proposal is part of a larger EU law reform called the Digital Omnibus.

Main themes

• Cookie banners
• Privacy preferences
• Tracking industry
• EU regulation
• Browser signals
• Data protection

What commenters say

• The proposed solution could lead to an all-or-nothing approach, where users may not want to be tracked by some websites but do want to be tracked by others.
• Some argue that the solution is not necessary, as users can already configure their browsers to block cookies or use extensions to manage cookie notices.
• Others believe that the tracking industry is trying to maintain the status quo to continue collecting user data, and that the proposed solution would be a significant improvement for user privacy.
• There are concerns that even if cookie banners are eliminated, tracking companies will find other ways to collect user data, such as through IP addresses or browser fingerprinting.
• Some commenters suggest that a better solution would be to implement a Do Not Track header that companies are compelled to obey, rather than relying on user consent.
• Others argue that the proposed solution could lead to a new market where users can configure their preferences and receive something in return for their data, such as free content.
• There is disagreement over whether the EU's efforts to regulate cookie banners are necessary, with some seeing it as an overreach and others as a necessary step to protect user privacy.
• Some commenters believe that the real issue is not cookie banners, but rather the underlying business model of the tracking industry, which prioritizes data collection over user privacy.