French data protection update: Google Analytics is (still) illegal

So yeah, GA has two big problems: information overflow and privacy.

What’s interesting, though, is that most analytics tools still violate European privacy laws. The GDPR is straightforward: if you collect or process personal data, you need user consent. So, if your tracker is anonymous, that should be fine.

But, the ePrivacy Directive also applies to web analytics software. Article 5.3. states: "Member States shall ensure that the storing of information, or the gaining of access to information already stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user is only allowed on condition that the subscriber or user concerned has given his or her consent…"

In other words, every analytics tool needs user consent. More about that topic here: https://volument.com/comply-with-data-privacy-laws

If you wanted to figure out where user drop-off is happening, you don't want to have to set up the data aggregate then and wait 6 months for your answer.

It's better to collect too much now and let you figure out what to do with it later than to never have useful data when actually have a question to ask it.