
Do I need consent to use Google Analytics with signals?
With the recent launch of Google Signals to enable Cross Device features in Google Analytics, this is also linked to being an ‘Advertising feature’ and you will need consent here too. It would also seem that if you are NOT using advertising features with Google Analytics, then you do not need consent (more advice on that further below).
What services require Google Analytics to collect data?
Integrated services that require Google Analytics to collect data for advertising purposes, including the collection of data via advertising cookies and identifiers. With the recent launch of Google Signals to enable Cross Device features in Google Analytics, this is also linked to being an ‘Advertising feature’ and you will need consent here too.
Do I need a privacy policy for Google Analytics?
If you are using Google Analytics, you must include a privacy policy on your website that states the use of the service and what data it collects and their purpose of collection. It must also list down the technologies using which Google collects data for Analytics, such as cookies and their duration. Is it legal to use Google Analytics?
Does GDPR apply to Google Analytics?
To my knowledge, this is the only mention of GDPR consent requirement by the Google Analytics team. This direction is quite clear. If you have enabled Advertising features in Google Analytics, then you need consent from the EU citizen first. Google defines ‘Advertising features’ as:
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Is Google Analytics consent mode GDPR compliant?
Google Consent Mode is a new way for your website to measure conversions and get analytics insights while being fully GDPR-compliant when using services like Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager (GTM) and Google Ads.
Do analytics cookies require consent?
Consent is required because analytics cookies are not strictly necessary to provide the service that the user requests. For example, the user can access your online service whether analytics cookies are enabled or not.
Why is Google Analytics not GDPR compliant?
The DSB sees Article 44 of the GDPR violated because the analysis software transmits personal user information to Google's corporate headquarters in the USA – and is therefore not protected from access by US authorities.
What is Google Analytics consent mode?
Consent mode allows you to adjust how your Google tags behave based on the consent status of your users and enables Google to model for gaps in conversions. You can indicate whether consent has been granted for analytics and ads cookies.
Is using Google Analytics illegal?
“All data controllers using Google Analytics in a similar way to [already notified] organizations must now consider this use as illegal under the GDPR.
Is Google Analytics first party data?
Google Analytics only uses first party cookies, to capture data about its web visitors.
Where is Google Analytics illegal?
After Austria & France, Italy is the third country to declare Google Analytics illegal. It's technically not possible to use Google Analytics in a compliant way. There won't be a legal framework very soon that says otherwise.
What is the biggest privacy concern with Google Analytics?
Google has been criticized for collecting data about Internet users, aggressive tracking and disclosing too much information to governments for a very long time, with Google Analytics recently raising some of the biggest privacy concerns.
How can I use Google Analytics legally in Europe?
The publisher should use the IP Anonymization feature of Google Analytics, which will cause Google Ireland Limited to strip the last part from the user's IP address within Europe before the user's data is passed along to Google LLC in the US. This feature is turned on by including some code on the website at issue.
Do I need consent for GA4?
However, if you share GA4 data with Google Ads or Signals, then (depending on the country's cookie law) you will likely need to obtain active consent from users by providing a cookie notice banner.
How do I put Google in consent mode?
Tag consent settingsIn any web tag, click Advanced Settings > Consent Settings.Review settings listed in Built-In Consent Checks. Tags with built-in consent checks include logic that changes the tag's execution behavior based on the user's consent state. ... Select Additional Consent Checks. Not set: Default.
How do you implement consent mode?
Enabling Consent ModeSet an initial consent state with the default values determined by your organization. ... Implement so that page tags are loaded before the consent dialog appears to the visitor.Be sure to load Google tags in all cases, not only if the user consents.More items...
Do I need permission to store cookies?
As per CCPA rules, you do not need consent to store cookies on a user's device, unless your visitor is a minor (< 16 years of age). However, the CCPA follows an opt-out approach. It requires you to give the users a choice to opt out of cookies and also, disclose details about cookies and their purposes.
How does cookie consent work?
Cookie consent works by providing website visitors with options for consenting to, denying, or setting their preferences for the use of cookies on that website. Cookie consent is usually given through site banners or pop-ups when the visitor first enters the site.
What cookies does Google Analytics use?
'_ga', the main cookie used by Google Analytics, enables a service to distinguish one visitor from another and lasts for 2 years. Any site that implements Google Analytics, including Google services, uses the '_ga' cookie.
Do I need a cookie policy on my website?
Yes, if your website uses cookies. GDPR and most other privacy laws require that you disclose to visitors what information you collect from them, such as their personal data and what you do with this information. If you use cookies to collect data from your site users, then you must have a cookie policy.
What is consent ping?
Consent status pings (Google Ads and Floodlight tags): Consent status pings are sent from each page the user visits where Consent Mode is implemented, and are also triggered for some tags if the consent state changes from denied to granted. (e.g., if the user opts in to a consent dialog). These pings communicate the default consent state configured by the site owner and/or the updated consent state (i.e. granted or denied) for each consent type (e.g. ad storage, analytics storage).
Do Google tags change when consent is given?
Google's tags will dynamically adapt, only utilizing measurement tools for the specified purposes when consent has been given by the user. Note: Consent Mode for web pages must be implemented in a way that loads the tags before the consent dialog appears. This way, Google tags will adjust their behavior according to the user's cookie consent choice.
The GDPR, and why it affects us
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a definitive and far reaching data protection law that applies to EU citizens and the processing of their personal data.
How does the GDPR concern Google Analytics?
The GDPR has a lot to say on data privacy and insists that any sort of data collected that can identify a user requires their explicit consent.
OK – so what do I need to do?
Right, so now that we’ve got that out of the way, what steps do we need to take to stay legitimate.
Final notes
Further decisions will of course make this information redundant, so I will monitor and update the article with any apparent changes!

Overview
- Consent Mode interacts with your Consent Management Platform (CMP) or custom implementat…
Consent Mode enables you to optimize for business goals while respecting the privacy choices of visitors. When visitors deny consent, instead of storing cookies, tags send signals (or pings) to Google. If you are using Google Analytics 4, Google fills the data collection gaps with Conversio… - The IAB Europe Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF) is an alternative way of enabling C…
Tags with built-in support for Consent Mode
Consent state and tag behavior
- When you enable Consent Mode, Google measurement products ensure that a visitor’s consent …
• Consent state pings for Google Ads and Floodlight tags: Communicate the default consent state that you have configured and the updated state when the visitor grants or denies consent for each consent type such as `ad storage` and `analytics storage`. Consent state pings are sent from ea… - • Conversion pings: Indicate that a conversion has occurred.
• Google Analytics pings: Sent from each page of a website where Google Analytics is implemented on load and when events are logged.
Consent Mode behavior
- Additionally, consent and conversion pings may include the following behaviors depending on th…
The default behaviors work as if all consent options are granted: - ad_storage='granted' and analytics_storage='granted'
Web
Enabling Consent Mode
- Customers using Google Tag Manager should enable Consent Mode with a template that is typi…
Regardless of how you enable Consent Mode, the following outline best practices: - • Set an initial consent state with the default values determined by your organization. The defaul…
• Implement so that page tags are loaded before the consent dialog appears to the visitor.
Set up consent mode
- When you’re ready, learn more about how to set up consent mode:
• Adjust tag behavior based on consent for Google tag (gtag.js) installations - • Consent configuration settings for Google Tag Manager
• Tag Assistant Consent Mode debugging