Cookies can do lots of different things, like helping websites work properly and showing you ads that are relevant to you. They can also keep track of what you do on a website, where you are, what device you're using, and where you go online afterwards. For many websites, cookies are important for showing ads, but some people find it invasive. It's common for people to visit a website or buy something and then see ads related to that on other websites.

When you visit a website, you might see a pop-up about cookies. This is supposed to give you control over them, but it can be confusing. For example, if you close the pop-up without choosing anything, it might mean you're saying yes or no to cookies depending on the website. The group that watches out for people's rights has said that websites should make it just as easy for you to say no to cookies as it is to say yes. Websites can still show ads even if you say no to tracking, but the ads shouldn't be based on what you've been looking at.

Right now, there are rules about cookies that are split between two laws. One is called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the other is called the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). The PECR is also known as the "cookie law" because it introduced the pop-ups about cookies. But there might be new rules soon to make fewer pop-ups. These new rules would let websites collect certain types of information without asking for permission, but this has made some people who care about privacy worried.

The group that watches out for people's rights says that lots of people are concerned about companies using their personal information without asking. They want companies to make the changes they need to follow the rules or there will be consequences. The group will give an update about this in January and will say which companies haven't done what they're supposed to. This is part of their bigger effort to protect people's rights when it comes to online ads.

Original news source: Crunch time for cookie use, watchdog warns (BBC)

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Ask each group to read the article and summarize the main points in 3-4 sentences.
4. After a designated time, ask each group to share their summaries with the class.
5. Encourage class discussion and compare the different summaries.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Ask each pair to discuss their opinions about cookies and online privacy.
3. Provide a list of statements related to the topic (e.g. "I am concerned about companies using my personal information without permission").
4. In each pair, one student will take the "agree" stance and the other will take the "disagree" stance.
5. Give the pairs a few minutes to discuss and come up with their reasons.
6. Have each pair present their opinions and reasons to the class.
7. Encourage respectful debate and allow other students to ask questions or challenge the opinions presented.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. One student from each team will come to the front of the class.
4. Show the student a vocabulary word and give them 30 seconds to draw a picture representing that word.
5. The rest of the team must try to guess the word based on the drawing.
6. If the team guesses correctly within the time limit, they earn a point.
7. Continue with different students and vocabulary words until all words have been used.
8. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
– Pros and Cons
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into small groups.
2. Assign each group a topic related to cookies and online privacy (e.g. "The use of cookies benefits users").
3. Ask each group to brainstorm a list of pros and cons for their assigned topic.
4. After a designated time, have each group present their lists to the class.
5. Encourage class discussion and allow other students to add to the lists or challenge the points presented.
6. Summarize the main pros and cons as a class.
– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Ask the class to imagine what the future of cookies and online privacy might look like.
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. In their pairs or groups, ask the students to discuss and make predictions about how cookies and online privacy might change in the next 10 years.
4. After a designated time, have each pair or group share their predictions with the class.
5. Facilitate a class discussion about the different predictions and encourage students to support their ideas with reasons or evidence from the article.

A group in the UK that watches out for people's rights has warned some popular websites about how they use cookies. Cookies are little ? that websites put on your computer to collect information, show you ads that match your interests, and keep track of what you do online. The group says that these websites are not giving users ? choices about cookies and has given them 30 days to follow the rules. They haven't said which websites they're talking about, but they have told them to fix the problem. Cookies can do lots of different things, like ? websites work properly and showing you ads that are ? to you. They can also keep track of what you do on a website, where you are, what device you're using, and where you go online afterwards. For many websites, cookies are important for showing ads, but some ? find it ?. It's common for people to visit a website or buy something and then see ads related to that on other websites. When you visit a website, you might see a pop-up about cookies. This is ? to give you ? over them, but it can be confusing. For example, if you close the pop-up without choosing anything, it might mean you're saying yes or no to cookies depending on the website. The group that watches out for people's rights has said that websites should make it just as easy for you to say no to cookies as it is to say yes. Websites can still show ads even if you say no to tracking, but the ads shouldn't be ? on what you've been looking at. Right now, there are rules about cookies that are ? between two laws. One is called the General Data Protection ? (GDPR) and the other is called the ? and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). The PECR is also known as the "cookie law" because it introduced the pop-ups about cookies. But there might be new rules soon to make fewer pop-ups. These new rules would let ? collect certain types of information without asking for permission, but this has made some people who care about ? worried. The group that watches out for people's rights says that lots of people are concerned about companies using their personal information without asking. They want companies to make the changes they need to follow the rules or there will be ?. The group will give an update about this in January and will say which companies haven't done what they're supposed to. This is part of their bigger effort to protect people's rights when it ? to online ads.

1. What is a cookie and what does it do on websites?
2. How would you feel if websites collected your personal information without asking?
3. Do you like seeing ads that are relevant to your interests? Why or why not?
4. Do you think websites should make it easier for users to say no to cookies? Why or why not?
5. What do you think about the idea of new rules that would allow websites to collect certain information without permission?
6. How do you feel about companies using your personal information for online ads?
7. Have you ever seen a pop-up about cookies when visiting a website? How did you respond?
8. What changes do you think companies should make to follow the rules about cookies?
9. How do you think the group that watches out for people's rights can protect people's rights when it comes to online ads?
10. Why do you think some people find cookies invasive?
11. Have you ever noticed ads on other websites related to something you looked at or bought online? How did you feel about it?
12. What consequences do you think companies should face if they don't follow the rules about cookies?
13. How important is your privacy to you when using the internet? Why?
14. Do you think the current rules about cookies are effective in protecting people's rights? Why or why not?
15. What changes would you like to see in the way websites use cookies?

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