VIENNA: A group of online privacy activists said on May 31 it is taking action against hundreds of websites over their use of pop-up banners asking users to consent to “cookies”, the files that track users’ activity.

The Vienna-based NOYB group (an acronym of “none of your business”) said it would be presenting more than 500 draft complaints to companies over what it calls the “cookie banner terror” which has turned the internet into “a frustrating experience for users all over Europe”.