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

Why is this on the front page? The author apparently did not do any research or they would have discovered that was tried with the DNT header [0] Also there is no cookie law, just that websites need consent to track you (simplified).

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Not_Track

There is effectively an EU cookie law, though it's not the GDPR like many people think it is; rather, it's an extension to the ePrivacy Directive[1] :

> ‘3. Member States shall ensure that the storing of information, or the gaining of access to information already stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user is only allowed on condition that the subscriber or user concerned has given his or her consent, having been provided with clear and comprehensive information, in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC, inter alia, about the purposes of the processing. This shall not prevent any technical storage or access for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network, or as strictly necessary in order for the provider of an information society service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user to provide the service.’;

Of course this also applies to flash cookies, local storage, and other browser data stores, not just cookies. The legal requirements for data storage that doesn't violate anyone's privacy are a lot looser, though.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CEL...

This law states storing or accessing stored data needs user consent when the data is not strictly necessary for the website in order to provide the service.

It doesn't mention banners or cookies or that every website needs it.