@codinghorror @luap42 the donottrack header is exactly that at the browser level; if it's set no need to ask the user about consent they're explicitly denying. For non-tracking, i.e., technically necessary (auth,user settings) cookies, that banner is not necessary
the browser setting exists, it's not honored by website operators, which choose to show banners instead, and is being torpedoed by google, who is earth's dominant ad network and browser supplier.
the EU (in that case) isn't at fault.