RE: Action 32 -- Proposed language for site-specific exception

Thank you John – helpful starting point.  I’d suggest we not assert only a cookie as the “exception” memory mechanism but a recommended one.  It could be equally viable and appropriate to store this information in a registration key, a browser setting, or some other technical mechanism.

- Shane

From: John Simpson [mailto:john@consumerwatchdog.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 8:00 AM
To: Aleecia M. McDonald; Nicholas Doty
Cc: public-tracking@w3.org Group WG
Subject: Action 32 -- Proposed language for site-specific exception

Proposed language for a site-specific exception using a cookie:

When a DNT enabled user agent grants a site-specific exception, the site places a site-specific opt-in cookie on the user agent allowing the site to respond as a First Party.  The DNT header must remain enabled so that if the user returns to the site, both the user's general preference for DNT and the site-specific exception will be clear.  This could enable the site to provide a higher level of privacy than if DNT were not enabled, but less than if the exception had not been granted. Opt-in site-specific exception cookies should expire within three months, enabling the site to determine periodically whether the user intends to continue to grant an exception.

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John M. Simpson
Consumer Advocate
Consumer Watchdog
Tel: 310-392-7041