Out-Law News 1 min. read

Over 99% of internet users accept cookies


Cookie rejection on the internet is less than one per cent, according to a report released yesterday by Californian firm WebSideStory.com. In a sampling of more than one billion page views in February, cookies were found to be rejected only 0.68% of the time.

A cookie is a small file that a web site puts on a visitor’s hard disk, usually so that site can remember something about the visitor at a later time. Most internet browsers by default allow sites to install cookies on a visitor’s hard drive. The user can instead set his or her browser to disable cookies or to give an option to accept or reject a cookie every time a site offers one.

“With the public debate over online privacy heating up, we thought it was important to bring this information to light,” said Randy Broberg, general counsel and chief privacy officer for WebSideStory. “Although some Web surfers may not know how to disable cookies in their browsers, such a minute percentage indicates that cookies are simply not a big concern among most internet users.”

Not knowing how to disable cookies may not be the only reason for leaving cookies enabled, which is the default setting in most internet browsers. Disabling cookies makes it impossible to view or register with some sites. The other browser setting, that prompts users whenever a cookie appear, can become tedious when messages pop up on every page of some popular sites.

Last week, internet advertising agency DoubleClick succeeded in having a court dismiss a class action that alleged abuse of cookies. The judge ruled that the company was not invading the privacy of individuals by placing cookies on the hard drives of users.

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