Many websites have a - huge- part in their cookie wall, called ‘legitimate interest’. I never allow them and i wonder; is this just a loophole to be able to force certain cookies on us anyway?

I can’t imagine it is harmless, but i never hear anyone discussing these type of cookies.

EDIT: Everyone, thank you so much for taking the effort to answer. These replies were very helpful and often quite detailed. I’ve read them all and it certainly gives food for thought. I also read that EU page, which is indeed not really clarifying much.

I agree that we need to do as much as possible to block all these invaders of our privacy, though it is ridiculous that we have to make so much effort to protect ourselves. And i know many people around me, who just let it all happen and are sometimes not even aware of such things as trackers. And honestly, they shouldn’t have to be aware, it is infuriating that these things are either allowed, or those companies taking the - small - risk to get away with it, because most people won’t bother with law suits and what not, certainly not when so many websites have these shady practices…

Again, thank you; i’m glad i asked :-)

  • @Viking_Hippie
    link
    441 year ago

    is this just a loophole to be able to force certain cookies on us anyway?

    Absolutely. The phrase itself is a weasel phrase expressing that they’re legitimately interested in giving you tons of malware to increase their profit potential but trying to trick you into thinking it means that the purposes of that malware are more legitimate than that which is easier to refuse.

    Most of them won’t even give you the option to reject it like othercookies, only letting you “object” to the fact that you’re getting it whether you want to or not.

    It’s infuriating and should be illegal for sure.