Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I figure there are likely to be a few affiliate type sites using MarketPress who will be particularly affected by the EU privacy laws.
I'm trying to add it myself at the moment but am having no success. I thought I needed to add the following before my </body tag>, which is in the footer.php file but it's not working.
If anyone does have a look, can you let me know what I'm doing wrong? I've requested support from AWIN as I know I'm doing something stupid or have missed a step but no idea what it is.
366 pointsCommunity rank #132ExpertGunning for gold!
Member
(joined April 2011)
Likes (0)
Hi Sequin,
I am in the Uk and have been having loads of fun with this new law (not), I am using the Civic solution, if you go to their site you will find there is a wordpress solution too:
@Arun. It isn't an actual Wordpress plugin, as far as I can work out - it's supposed to be usable on any platform, but I don't think the instrructions are complete enough for me. Just adding the script before the body tag doesn't work, but not sure what the process should be.
@Dave I've looked at the Civic option but it basically gives an opt-in / opt-out decision and I think most people will automatically opt-out. I can't afford to run my site without affiliate programs, and the AW solution gives more opportunity to educate visitors and some halfway options too, so I'd rather use it if I can get it working. It will also identify and stop the affiliate links linking if they do opt out, which is a useful function.
It is a ridiculous law. The websites they are trying to police will just pay lipservice while making it difficult for you to actually opt out and the rest of us will spend unecessary time and money trying to comply.
There are a few plugins like that but I don't think they actually meet the requirements of the law - I believe it states that you have to have explicit consent, not implicit, as in "by continuing to use this site, you agree..."
I think I'm going to hold out and try to get the AWIN script working as I like the idea of reduced service rather than cookies on/cookies off, and to be honest, I'd like to deactivate links if cookies are not accepted for sales tracking. It sounds harsh, but my site makes very limited profit (not nearly enough to fund the time I spend) and is kind of a social enterprise, aimed at helping breastfeeding mums. I feel that if someone finds and buys something via my site, they should be prepared to let me use the commission to help other mums get the same service and I'll be explaining that in my popup when I finally get it working.
Just had another browse through the plugins and found this http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/cookiecert-eu-cookie-directive/ which I think might be useful. It seems to offer more information about the cookies themselves, and third party reassurance for visitors. Also somewhere to get a quick cookie audit of your site, which seems a good place to start.
One more which looks interesting - http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/cookillian/
It is an opt-in/opt-out choice, but it does a basic cookie audit for you and allows you to add more info so people understand a little more about the cookies themselves.
5086 pointsCommunity rank #12Supreme DeityUnpaid StaffLifetime member
Inactive
(joined February 2012)
Likes (0)
Why didn't I think of that? Actually any pop-over plugin would do. Sorry that you guys have this ridiculous law.
How come its only for EU? I bet its based on the domain registration details. So register the domain in the name of someone in US and you don't have to comply to this law I suppose?
Confidentiality of communications and spyware
It should be remembered that the intention behind this Regulation is also to reflect concerns about the use of covert surveillance mechanisms online. Here, we are not referring to the collection of data in the context of conducting legitimate business online but the fact that so-called spyware can enter a terminal without the knowledge of the subscriber or user to gain access to information, store information or trace the activities of the user and that such activities often have a criminal purpose behind them.
Lets be honest if someone is doing something dodgy they are not going to start abiding by the law. :-/
Ironically many of the codes out there sets a cookie/session.
366 pointsCommunity rank #132ExpertGunning for gold!
Member
(joined April 2011)
Likes (0)
For what it's worth, I spent weeks researching this, even had emails with MEP's about it and my own MP, still waiting a constructive response though.
Anyway my take on this is first to go through your site with the aim of offering a site that places no cookies at when a visitor first arrives, when they hit your site show them some sort of warning that you use cookies and that if they continue to use the site cookies will be set, but most importantly have a link to your privacy policy which details all cookies that can be expected from using the site.
I first details those that are directly related to the sites own function, for example those set when a comment is left or those that result from logging into wordpress.
Next come the 3rd party cookies, those that are set as a result of clicking on a link to say facebook or using an addthis link. The ICO's office told me during a conversation that as long as my visitors are forewarned about these cookies then it's acceptable.
Some that I got rid of were google analytics and jepack, I now use awstats for my stats, it sets no cookies because it reads the raw log files.
We have also found out how to load pages with the addthis code on them that don't set cookies as soon as the page loads, addthis related cookies are only set after a visitor clicks on an addthis link, let me know if you want the info on this.
5086 pointsCommunity rank #12Supreme DeityUnpaid StaffLifetime member
Inactive
(joined February 2012)
Likes (0)
Hey Dave,
My question is why go though all the trouble? Okay, suppose we tell them, "Hey visitor, we are gonna set the awesome2.0 cookie, if it isn't okay for you, please exit the site". What will the user make out of that?
Heck, most users don't even know what Adsense / Analytics is. And it is a given that any site would use cookies, its part of web browsing.
Its just like loading images, or Javascript for that matter. What does the user care.
366 pointsCommunity rank #132ExpertGunning for gold!
Member
(joined April 2011)
Likes (0)
Hi Arun,
well sadly it's all part of us in the UK being part of the tin pot outfit known as the EU and the fact that the UK government decided that they would take the lead and implement this law first.
Now I am not against this law at all, because I think that Google and the ad agencies take too many liberties in the data they collect, just my own personal view, maybe because I remember the internet in the days when there were no graphical browsers and there was no Google, the internet was a place of freedom with no one trying to tell you how you should do things - I digress sorry.
I feel that the EU should be going after the ad agencies and google with this law to prevent them from placing these cookies without the users consent.
But the law is here for the foreseeable future so we have to comply in a way that we believe is right, yes it is open to interpretation simply because of the lack of concrete guidance.
Responses (15)
Inactive (joined February 2012) Likes (0)
Hey sequin,
This sure is the right place, but I am confused here. Is this like a WordPress plugin? Do they have one? (I couldn't find it).
From this document: http://www.affiliatewindow.com/documents/Wiki/Documents/ePrivacy%20Plug-in%20Development%20Guidlines.pdf I feel that we have to integrate it to the site with more than the entry in footer.php
what do you think?
Member (joined April 2011) Likes (0)
Hi Sequin,
I am in the Uk and have been having loads of fun with this new law (not), I am using the Civic solution, if you go to their site you will find there is a wordpress solution too:
http://www.civicuk.com/cookie-law/index
Cheers
Dave
Member (joined April 2012) Likes (0)
@Arun. It isn't an actual Wordpress plugin, as far as I can work out - it's supposed to be usable on any platform, but I don't think the instrructions are complete enough for me. Just adding the script before the body tag doesn't work, but not sure what the process should be.
@Dave I've looked at the Civic option but it basically gives an opt-in / opt-out decision and I think most people will automatically opt-out. I can't afford to run my site without affiliate programs, and the AW solution gives more opportunity to educate visitors and some halfway options too, so I'd rather use it if I can get it working. It will also identify and stop the affiliate links linking if they do opt out, which is a useful function.
Support Hamster (joined March 2012) Likes (0)
Hello Sequin,
Why don't you try this? http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/eu-cookie-law/
Inactive (joined February 2012) Likes (0)
The plugin @aristath suggested seems to be made for it, it was uploaded only today.
I think this is such a ridiculous law. Most people don't understand what a cookie is I think.
You can see it live here: http://pleer.co.uk/wordpress/plugins/eu-cookie-law/
Member (joined April 2012) Likes (0)
It is a ridiculous law. The websites they are trying to police will just pay lipservice while making it difficult for you to actually opt out and the rest of us will spend unecessary time and money trying to comply.
There are a few plugins like that but I don't think they actually meet the requirements of the law - I believe it states that you have to have explicit consent, not implicit, as in "by continuing to use this site, you agree..."
I think I'm going to hold out and try to get the AWIN script working as I like the idea of reduced service rather than cookies on/cookies off, and to be honest, I'd like to deactivate links if cookies are not accepted for sales tracking. It sounds harsh, but my site makes very limited profit (not nearly enough to fund the time I spend) and is kind of a social enterprise, aimed at helping breastfeeding mums. I feel that if someone finds and buys something via my site, they should be prepared to let me use the commission to help other mums get the same service and I'll be explaining that in my popup when I finally get it working.
Member (joined April 2012) Likes (0)
Just had another browse through the plugins and found this http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/cookiecert-eu-cookie-directive/ which I think might be useful. It seems to offer more information about the cookies themselves, and third party reassurance for visitors. Also somewhere to get a quick cookie audit of your site, which seems a good place to start.
Member (joined April 2012) Likes (0)
One more which looks interesting - http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/cookillian/
It is an opt-in/opt-out choice, but it does a basic cookie audit for you and allows you to add more info so people understand a little more about the cookies themselves.
Support Chimp (joined March 2010) Likes (0)
It is a silly law I agree but I can understand what they think they are going to achieve. Not sure they will.... Sigh.....
I'm also in the UK, did you see what the BBC have done?
They display a notice on the page once, if you don't click it you don't see it again during that session.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
Another plugin just to throw this out there which could work here is our own Pop Up plugin:
http://premium.wpmudev.org/project/the-pop-over-plugin/
You just put in the relevant information and your done.
I know in the UK its noting being enforced as such yet but will be interesting to see where this goes.
Take care.
Inactive (joined February 2012) Likes (0)
Why didn't I think of that? Actually any pop-over plugin would do. Sorry that you guys have this ridiculous law.
How come its only for EU? I bet its based on the domain registration details. So register the domain in the name of someone in US and you don't have to comply to this law I suppose?
Support Chimp (joined March 2010) Likes (0)
It covers EU based Businesses and residents using Cookies.
Here is the UKs info:
http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/privacy_and_electronic_communications/the_guide/cookies.aspx
Lets be honest if someone is doing something dodgy they are not going to start abiding by the law. :-/
Ironically many of the codes out there sets a cookie/session.
Inactive (joined February 2012) Likes (0)
True.
This gives users a sense of false security, which is probably what the government wants.
sigh.
Member (joined April 2011) Likes (0)
For what it's worth, I spent weeks researching this, even had emails with MEP's about it and my own MP, still waiting a constructive response though.
Anyway my take on this is first to go through your site with the aim of offering a site that places no cookies at when a visitor first arrives, when they hit your site show them some sort of warning that you use cookies and that if they continue to use the site cookies will be set, but most importantly have a link to your privacy policy which details all cookies that can be expected from using the site.
I first details those that are directly related to the sites own function, for example those set when a comment is left or those that result from logging into wordpress.
Next come the 3rd party cookies, those that are set as a result of clicking on a link to say facebook or using an addthis link. The ICO's office told me during a conversation that as long as my visitors are forewarned about these cookies then it's acceptable.
Some that I got rid of were google analytics and jepack, I now use awstats for my stats, it sets no cookies because it reads the raw log files.
We have also found out how to load pages with the addthis code on them that don't set cookies as soon as the page loads, addthis related cookies are only set after a visitor clicks on an addthis link, let me know if you want the info on this.
Anyway that's my twopenneth worth
Cheers
Dave
Inactive (joined February 2012) Likes (0)
Hey Dave,
My question is why go though all the trouble? Okay, suppose we tell them, "Hey visitor, we are gonna set the awesome2.0 cookie, if it isn't okay for you, please exit the site". What will the user make out of that?
Heck, most users don't even know what Adsense / Analytics is. And it is a given that any site would use cookies, its part of web browsing.
Its just like loading images, or Javascript for that matter. What does the user care.
Sad we get to be ruled by illogical holes ;)
Member (joined April 2011) Likes (0)
Hi Arun,
well sadly it's all part of us in the UK being part of the tin pot outfit known as the EU and the fact that the UK government decided that they would take the lead and implement this law first.
Now I am not against this law at all, because I think that Google and the ad agencies take too many liberties in the data they collect, just my own personal view, maybe because I remember the internet in the days when there were no graphical browsers and there was no Google, the internet was a place of freedom with no one trying to tell you how you should do things - I digress sorry.
I feel that the EU should be going after the ad agencies and google with this law to prevent them from placing these cookies without the users consent.
But the law is here for the foreseeable future so we have to comply in a way that we believe is right, yes it is open to interpretation simply because of the lack of concrete guidance.
Cheers
dave
Become a member