| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 25/09/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 80 |
| Copyright: Other |
BA questioned over Internet cookie usage
A MIDLANDS-based travel agent has called for a meeting with British Airways over concerns that confidential information about his agency is being stored on the airline’s Web site.
Mercian Travel Centre director John Downing found that when visiting www.britishairways.com, the information he requested was being downloaded by a device called a cookie. Cookies are commonly used by companies with Web sites as a marketing tool to find out more about their customers but Downing is concerned the cookie is being used against him. He will meet with BA on October 3.
A BA spokesman said: “Cookies are commonly used to track site visitors’ behaviour and are not used for any ulterior motives.”