Consumer advocates warn companies about cookie banners
Cookies are small data sets that websites store in order to make users identifiable. (Photo: Song_about_summer / shutterstock)
If you are on the web, after a few clicks you often come across cookie banners with which the operators request consent to collect data. During an investigation, consumer advocates discover masses of defects.
The consumer advice centers in Germany have issued warnings to almost 100 companies because, in the opinion of consumer advocates, they have illegally obtained permission to collect data while surfing the web. In an investigation of 949 websites, ten percent of the companies with their cookie banners clearly violated the requirements of the Telemedia Act (TMG) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), said the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) on Friday in Berlin.
During the campaign, websites from various industries such as travel, grocery delivery services and insurance were examined. In addition to the clearly illegal banners, there were also many overlays that were in a legal gray area. “At first glance, the banners looked admissible, but tried using tricks to guide the users’ decision.”
The consumer advocates have sent 98 warnings for clear violations of the TMG and the GDPR. In two thirds of the cases, the companies have now issued a cease and desist declaration. The companies that have been warned include providers of food delivery services or online music services, as well as from the fitness industry.
Cookies are small data sets that websites store in order to make users identifiable. With their help, individual profiles can be created that allow far-reaching conclusions about surfing behavior, preferences and lifestyle. This knowledge is then used, for example, for personalized advertising.
vzbv board member Klaus Müller said that illegal cookie banners are not a trivial offense. “The increasing data snooping endangers the privacy of the consumer: inside and leads to the illuminated citizen.”
In the summer, the international data protection association Noyb led by the Austrian lawyer Max Schrems took legal action against website operators in Germany because of defective cookie banners. dpa
