Firms face cookie crunch

HUNDREDS of companies across the North West have just six weeks to make sure their websites meet new privacy and electronic communications rules – or face enforcement by the Information Commissioners Office, which ultimately has the power to issue six-figure fines.

Susan Hall, a partner and IT specialist at Cobbetts in Manchester, said businesses are required by law to obtain the consent of website users in order to collect or store their data by way of cookies.

Companies have have had a 12-month grace period to review their practices, but this is due to expire in May.

She said: “The law means that storing any customer data is only allowed ‘on condition that the subscriber or user concerned has given his or her consent, having been provided with clear and comprehensive information about the purposes of the processing’.

“Consent needs to be granted explicitly and must be unambiguous.

“If your company runs a website, check to make sure that you’re not capturing and storing customer data or have a plan in place to meet the legislation.”