Legal Matters: Beware of the Cookie Monster

Such implementation requirements would have presented a dilemma for online retailers. Confronted with an austere notice and opt-in requirement, many visitors would navigate away from their sites rather than accept the cookies. Ironically, the result would likely be to drive traffic to noncompliant websites, which don't disclose their use of cookies. This would put companies that comply with the EU Directive's requirements at a disadvantage to those companies that fail (or refuse) to comply.