ICO issues follow up warning on cookie compliance

Posted on Thursday 01 February 2024

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has called on the industry to proactively make advertising cookies compliant with data protection law following a positive response to its initial action


Last November, the ICO wrote to 53 of the UK’s top 100 websites stating that organisations must make it as easy for users to ‘Reject All’ advertising cookies as it is to ‘Accept All’. This followed the ICO & CMA’s publication of joint guidance on website design earlier in the year - including the need to use design to empower user choice and control.

According to the latest update from Stephen Almond, Executive Director, Regulatory Risk at the ICO, the regulatory body has seen “an overwhelmingly positive response to our call to action” with 38 organisations changing their cookie banners to be compliant and four committing to reach compliance within the next month.

He goes on: “Several others are working to develop alternative solutions, including contextual advertising and subscription models. We will provide further clarity on how these models can be implemented in compliance with data protection law in the next month.” 

The update states that the ICO will “not stop with the top 100 websites. We are already preparing to write to the next 100 – and the 100 after that”. The ICO is basing this breakdown on UKOM data.  To speed up the process, it is developing an AI solution to identify websites that are using non-compliant cookie banners. You can read the full update here

We are currently working with our publisher members and the AOP on this matter. If you’re an IAB member and would like more information on this work, please contact [email protected]

Topics

Related content

members chatting

IAB UK Responds to Government's Industrial Strategy Consultation

Learn more
Three people speaking to eachother

Less healthy food and drink (HFSS) ad ban: What it is & how it works

Learn more
The audience at an IAB event

New data Bill drops plans for centralised cookie consent

Learn more
members

What we learnt at the 2024 party conferences

Learn more

Rediscover the joy of digital advertising

Champion connections instead of clicks. Capture audiences' imaginations, not just their attention. Boldly find your own beat instead of letting tech set the pace. It’s time to rediscover the joy of digital.

IAB UK Chatbot

Close Chat

Hi, I'm NORI

As the IAB’s AI-powered chatbot, I’m here to help IAB members understand everything about the world of digital advertising. You must be an IAB member to ask a question. To get started, either log into your account or create one below.

Are you sure you want to clear your chat history?

No
IAB chatbot icon