Internet's biggest annoyance: Cookie laws should target browsers, not websites

Of course companies could just - I know, weird idea - stop tracking you. Then you don't need those dumb consent boxes.

The problem with making it a law is tracking is in the eye of the beholder, so site owners are heavily incentivized to err on the side of caution and put up the box just in case.

But unfortunately they won't. This will not happen. They ultimately shift to fingerprinting our browsers instead of using Cookies but they will keep on tracking...

Another weird idea: make this kind of tracking illegal. Why would anyone willingly agree to be tracked?

God forbid they err on the side of caution and not set any cookies.

> Why would anyone willingly agree to be tracked?

To avoid paying actual money, even the smallest sum of it.

And companies could just -- each give me $10,000. Then I wouldn't need to work.

But companies generally do whatever is in their best interest. I don't know why anyone would expect them to do otherwise with regards to tracking.

Please ask the EU to lead by example then. The official EU commission website has a cookie banner (https://commission.europa.eu/index_fr)

So either: The EU commission is including trackers on their websites. And they should stop OR they acknowledge that it's almost impossible to build a website without some form of tracking that falls under the law, and they should look into the law itself.

So they have work on their plate.

Right?! I have a website for a music studio. I never worry about any of this shit because it's just a static site with no tracking or analytics. It's just that simple. It's there if someone searches for me and that's enough. Rely on being a good business and organic search, word of mouth, and reputation will bring you business. You don't need to seo the shit out of everything and sell your visitors.

It’s not like it would be any more work to figure it out with a complex site. You still have to enumerate everything you’re tracking, add the ability to disable it, and make sure the site works without it. All you have to do is turn them all off rather than presenting an alert asking the user.

I understand why companies don’t do it that way. Tracking is worth money and they like money. What I don’t understand is why ordinary people make excuses for them.

> OR they acknowledge that it's almost impossible to build a website without some form of tracking

Why would it be almost impossible to "build a website" without tracking?

I created a production web application which does tracking (although not necessary, could remove it within minutes from the application and probably nobody would notice) without needing a "cookie" banner. How? I don't track any personal data, just anonymous interaction.

Good thing that it's not an option with the GDPR. Pay or consent doesn't allow informed, free consent.

Why doesn't the EU do it ?

At least here on HN, keep in mind some of the commenters may be working in adtech or operators of ad-supported sites. I.e., not ordinary people.