Final storage and access technologies guidance published

Our Take: I’ve not had a chance to fully read into this yet, but my initial big takeaway is the uphill battle that the ICO has in trying to convince people that terms like SATs mean the same thing as they understand when they here cookies. I know how they feel, it’s driven me mad for years, but sometimes you need to meet people where they are. I’m slightly concerned about the references to consulting with the online advertising industry to help shape future initiatives – I’d really like to see consultation with third sector or indeed businesses who are reliant on the advertising revenue but also value their customers to pitch in here too. Final thought is to about how it’s intended that “demonstrably low privacy risks” are quantified. In 2004 I remember the then commissioner, Richard Thomas, warning that we were sleepwalking into a surveillance society. Whilst the current commissioner has stepped away for a while, I hope the ICO still remembers that report.

Your Takeaway: Nothing really to see here, yet – but if online tracking or advertising is important to your business, or to your ethics, it’s worth a closer read – and maybe getting involved in the ongoing discussions.