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

Why do people use GA? I've tried it, and it's so unnecessarily complex. They should have a 'lite' version that just focuses on unique visits and impressions, and that's it. The tool is massively underused by the majority who use it. I can see the use-case for startups and large companies who are doing A/B testing and doing funnels etc but using it for basic metrics is like bringing a gun to a knife fight due to its complexity.

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

#5

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jun 18, 2022, 6:08 PM UTC

legrande wrote: post #4

Why do people use GA? I've tried it, and it's so unnecessarily complex. They should have a 'lite' version that just focuses on unique visits and impressions, and that's it. The tool is massively underused by the majority who use it. I can see the use-case for startups and large companies who are doing A/B testing and doing funnels etc but using it for basic metrics is like bringing a gun to a knife fight due to its c…

[deleted]

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

#6

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jun 18, 2022, 8:31 PM UTC

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

#7

Post by jussivee » Sat, Jun 18, 2022, 8:32 PM UTC

legrande wrote: post #4

Why do people use GA? I've tried it, and it's so unnecessarily complex. They should have a 'lite' version that just focuses on unique visits and impressions, and that's it. The tool is massively underused by the majority who use it. I can see the use-case for startups and large companies who are doing A/B testing and doing funnels etc but using it for basic metrics is like bringing a gun to a knife fight due to its c…

GA is overwhelming. I’ve seen how people open their GA dashboards and are paralyzed by the sheer amount of information. Now, Google is forcing all their users to GA4, which is even more complicated than Universal Analytics.

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

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

#8

Post by yakak » Sat, Jun 18, 2022, 8:54 PM UTC

legrande wrote: post #4

Why do people use GA? I've tried it, and it's so unnecessarily complex. They should have a 'lite' version that just focuses on unique visits and impressions, and that's it. The tool is massively underused by the majority who use it. I can see the use-case for startups and large companies who are doing A/B testing and doing funnels etc but using it for basic metrics is like bringing a gun to a knife fight due to its c…

The whole point of using it is to connect AdWords spend and/or the maximum amount of data you can get out of google search. There's a definite cost to not tuning these things as well as google possibly can. If you actually want to know about your own website, just about any competing tool is better.

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

#9

Post by peakminute » Sat, Jun 18, 2022, 9:21 PM UTC

legrande wrote: post #4

Why do people use GA? I've tried it, and it's so unnecessarily complex. They should have a 'lite' version that just focuses on unique visits and impressions, and that's it. The tool is massively underused by the majority who use it. I can see the use-case for startups and large companies who are doing A/B testing and doing funnels etc but using it for basic metrics is like bringing a gun to a knife fight due to its c…

No post body was provided.

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

#10

Post by legitster » Sat, Jun 18, 2022, 10:10 PM UTC

legrande wrote: post #4

Why do people use GA? I've tried it, and it's so unnecessarily complex. They should have a 'lite' version that just focuses on unique visits and impressions, and that's it. The tool is massively underused by the majority who use it. I can see the use-case for startups and large companies who are doing A/B testing and doing funnels etc but using it for basic metrics is like bringing a gun to a knife fight due to its c…

Historical data.

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.