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Law firm Fieldfisher and Sitemorse, a leading supplier of web content governance solutions, today announce their collaboration on a comprehensive solution for businesses struggling to comply with new European Union regulations which require websites owners to obtain visitors' consent relating to the use of cookies. The EU is concerned that 'cookies', little bits of data collected by a web browser about online users, could be a violation of privacy.
The new Cookie Audit and Advisory Service provided by Fieldfisher and Sitemorse tackles the combined technical and legal challenges that businesses face in cataloguing existing cookie use and determining appropriate user transparency and consent strategies.
The solution is a response to European legislative changes which come into effect on 26 May that affect the serving and use of website cookies by online businesses. These require businesses to ensure that users consent to receive cookies served through their website, having first provided them with clear disclosures about the purpose and use of those cookies. In the UK, regulatory guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office has made clear that, to prepare for these new requirements, businesses must identify what cookies they use, assess how intrusive they are, and then adopt appropriate strategies for user consent.
Eduardo Ustaran, head of Fieldfisher's Privacy and Information Law Group said: "The new cookie rules are a real compliance challenge for everyone because of the uncertainty they create. This service is an attempt to help internet business get this right by combining a tool to identify what cookies websites use with a practical and realistic legal assessment".
The Cookie Audit and Advisory Service offers a three-stage review for businesses trying to identify and put in place comprehensive and transparent consent strategies. Initially, Sitemorse will use its SaaS web content governance tools to undertake an extensive review of the website domain and identify the cookies and other tracking devices served through it. Fieldfisher's privacy specialists will then review the potential intrusiveness of those cookies under European privacy law and guidance. Finally, Sitemorse and Fieldfisher will recommend appropriate transparency and consent strategies, tailored to meet their clients’ specific commercial and technical constraints.
"This isn't just a one-off, quick fix," said Lawrence Shaw, CEO of Sitemorse. "Websites evolve over time, and so do their use of cookies. It can be very difficult just keeping track of what is served through your site, where and for what reason, let alone assessing how intrusive those cookies are and what disclosures and consents are required. That's why our solution also offers ongoing 24 x 7 cookie monitoring and will report when new cookies are deployed or used outside agreed permissions. This enables businesses to really manage their forward-facing website compliance in a simple, effective manner."
For further press information, please contact:
Louise Eckersley, PR Manager, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on +44 (0)20 7861 4120
Amie Ryalls, PR Executive, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP on +44 (0)20 7861 4995
Geoff Paddock, Communications Consultant, Sitemorse on +44 (0) 1525 375057
Notes to editor
Fieldfisher
Fieldfisher is a European law firm specialising in providing commercial solutions for all industries and sectors. It has a particular focus on organisations that are highly regulated and those with intellectual property and technology driven business models.
Fieldfisher’s market-leading Privacy and Information Law Group comprises a dedicated team of lawyers supported by an international network covering more than 40 jurisdictions with specialist knowledge across all areas of privacy and data protection law. The group’s experience embraces all aspects of privacy-related law, including working with regulators across the world and contributing to the policy-making process.
Fieldfisher’s Privacy and Information Law Group carries out data protection audits, devises e-privacy strategies, drafts privacy policies, rules and guidelines, and advises on dealings with individuals, data protection authorities and other regulatory agencies, international data transfers as well as contentious privacy issues.