New rules governing the use of internet cookies and other
similar technologies have come into force following the Irish
transposition of an EU Directive.1 The new Irish
Regulations take effect from 1 July 2011 and require that website
operators obtain "opt-in" consent before placing cookies
on a user's computer or mobile phone. A key issue now facing
businesses operating websites in Ireland is how they can obtain
opt-in user consent while causing minimum impact to the user
experience and without having to drastically reform their
websites.
Cookies are small files which are downloaded from a website and
stored on a user's computer or mobile phone allowing the
website to recognise the user's device and hence enabling the
website to provide a more customised and a smoother user interface.
As well as facilitating user experience cookies are increasingly
being used as a means to collect information on users for the
purposes of targeted advertising.
