While the ICO uses Google Analytics I think it may be safe for the rest of us, somehow. Now, let me get mack to my boxed set of Yes Minister!

On 13 Dec 2011, at 16:41, Mike Ellis wrote:

> This just in from ICO...
> 
> http://bit.ly/uEdMGA
> 
> "we should try harder"
> 
> :-)
> 
> _____________________________
> 
> 
> *Mike Ellis *
> 
> We do nice web stuff: http://thirty8.co.uk
> 
> ...and I wrote a book - all about digital heritage strategy:
> http://heritageweb.co.uk
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 3:21 PM, Thomas Goskar <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
>> As Mike mentioned, analysing log files wasn't exactly the most
>> friendly or accurate process, and I don't want those days ever again.
>> If we are to follow government example, rather than the letter of the
>> law, then I point you at lines 772-782 of the HTML source code for
>> http://www.number10.gov.uk/
>> I also note with interest that Google are advertising on London buses
>> and the Tube to explain what cookies are, which is a little odd if
>> their use is curtailed by a law which is shortly to be enforced.
>> 
>> I do hope that this mess can be sorted out, but until No. 10's website
>> removes their Google Analytics tracking code, I'm keeping mine too.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> 
>> Tom
>> 
>> Web Manager
>> Wessex Archaeology
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 3:13 PM, Mike Ellis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>> The enormous irony AFAIC is the enormous mismatch between the vast
>> quantity of TOTALLY personal information being thrown at Facebook with the
>> aggregate non-personal information currently being stored by tools like
>> Google Analytics…but annnyway...
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _____________________________
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Mike Ellis
>>> 
>>> We do nice web stuff: http://thirty8.co.uk (http://thirty8.co.uk/)
>>> 
>>> ** I've written a book: http://heritageweb.co.uk (
>> http://heritageweb.co.uk/) **
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Tuesday, 13 December 2011 at 15:08, Tony Crockford wrote:
>>> 
>>>> On Tue Dec 13 2011 14:46:59 Mike Ellis wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Nonetheless, I'd welcome some kind of unified response. Log files
>> nearly killed me once :-)
>>>> 
>>>> I notice that the latest version of Firefox now has an option to "tell
>> websites I don't want to be tracked"
>>>> 
>>>> I'm hoping that the law will ultimately accept the users browser
>> settings to indicate they accept, or do not accept *tracking cookies* which
>> is the point of the directive.
>>>> 
>>>> The fact that they somehow managed to write guidelines to include *all*
>> cookies is all part of the problem with law.
>>>> 
>>>> The current reaction is an indicator of all that's wrong with law
>> making. The law abiding are bending over backwards to try and comply with
>> something so fuzzy it's almost surreal, whereas those that the law was
>> designed to thwart are looking for ways to track users *without* cookies.
>>>> 
>>>> E.g. We can't browse from the same IP address for long without leaving
>> fingerprints, and anyone that uses the same IP and the same browser on the
>> same operating system will be leaving muddy footprints all over the place.
>>>> 
>>>> Pattern recognition on popular sites will allow targeted advertising
>> based on that footprint alone - no need for cookies, and the law is too
>> late.
>>>> 
>>>> My view is that a statement about cookies in use is a good starting
>> point, having a pop up on every page to bar the user until they accept
>> cookies is a nightmare - and it needs to be every page if that's how we're
>> interpreting the law as nobody arrives on your home page and knocks
>> politely any more.
>>>> 
>>>> Unworkable and pointless is my humble opinion of The revised Privacy
>> and Electronic Communications regulations, sadly I see the usual crop of
>> money making schemes appearing.
>>>> 
>>>> Nice summary of the shambles here:
>>>> 
>> http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/butterworth-and-bowcott-on-law/2011/may/27/cookie-law-shambles-web-browsers
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
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Tim Trent - Consultant
Tel: +44 (0)7710 126618
web: ComplianceAndPrivacy.com - where busy executives go to find the news first

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