It doesn't allow spying though. It allows, e.g., to save your session if you intentionally logged in.
Typical "legitimate interest" section is about sharing data with 40 "trusted partners".
I opened Google News. First site I've seen is t3.com - some review of pebble wearable.
I was greeted by cookie dialog. I clicked "more info" -> "partners" -> "legitimate interest".
131 vendors, including among other "Adform - agentic advertising" who wishes to store laundry list of my data for 10 years.
It doesn't allow spying though. It allows, e.g., to save your session if you intentionally logged in.