Software firm challenges ICO on cookie law

A SOFTWARE FIRM is challenging the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) over the rule that requires that all websites warn users about the use of cookies.

The firm called Silktide used to build websites, but now it makes software that analyses them. It said that it has created the website because it is frustrated with the cookie rules and the impact that they have had on web use and design.

It has, to put it bluntly, stuck two fingers up at the ICO with its Nocookielaw website and its "Dear ICO, Sue Us" tagline.

"We're sick of you and this ridiculous cookie law. So here's an ultimatum," says the text on the webpage.

"We've taken all our cookies solutions off all our websites. The evil cookies are back, and the pointless slidey warning messages are no more. We tried. We even wrote an open source solution to the cookie law used by 5,000 sites. But the truth is it's a tragic waste of time."

The firm is making it easy for the traditionally slow to react ICO to react and has even given some advice about how to tackle its rule breaking.

"Presumably we now fly in the face of the law you are sworn to uphold," it says. "Please, please do your worst. Send in a team of balaclava-clad ninjas in black hawk helicopters to tickle us to death with feather dusters. Just do something."

In order to help things even further a link is provided so that people can complain about the website to the ICO. We have asked the ICO what it makes of all this, but so far, no response.

Theoretically the ICO could levy a fine of as much as £500,000 against the firm and its website.

Oliver Emberton, the founder of Silktide said that his firm had not spoken to the ICO, but suspected that it might be aware of the website.

He said that the website is the result of frustration with a range of things, including the lack of guidance about how best to conform to cookie laws.

"We've been talking about the cookie law for almost 18 months solid so it's possible they've stumbled upon something we did by now," he said.

"It still isn't clear what is actually expected of us. Everyone has been trying to figure out what they can get away with, and what we've observed is: almost anything. We swapped out our compliance solutions for a privacy policy link, which it looks like is enough for Amazon / Google / Facebook / DirectGov, even if it isn't according to the law." µ