GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation, a European Union law that governs how organizations collect, store, and process personal data of EU residents.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a comprehensive privacy law that took effect in May 2018. It applies to any organization that processes personal data of EU residents, regardless of where the organization is located.
For website analytics, GDPR has significant implications. Traditional analytics tools that use cookies to track visitors are considered to process personal data, requiring explicit consent before tracking. This led to the ubiquitous cookie consent banners across the web.
Key GDPR principles include data minimization (collect only what's necessary), purpose limitation (use data only for stated purposes), and the right to erasure (users can request their data be deleted). Violations can result in fines up to 4% of global revenue.
Privacy-focused analytics tools have emerged as a GDPR-friendly alternative. By not using cookies and not collecting personal data, these tools can operate without consent requirements while still providing valuable website insights.
Frequently asked questions
Does GDPR apply to my website?
GDPR applies if you have visitors from the EU, regardless of where your business is located. If EU residents can access your website and you collect any personal data (including via cookies), GDPR requirements apply.
Do I need a cookie banner for analytics?
If your analytics tool uses cookies or collects personal data, yes. However, privacy-focused analytics tools that don't use cookies and don't collect personal data typically don't require consent banners under GDPR.
What counts as personal data under GDPR?
Personal data includes any information that can identify a person: names, email addresses, IP addresses, cookie IDs, device fingerprints, and location data. Even pseudonymous data that could be linked back to a person counts.