
Most companies post their privacy policy in the header or footer of their website, allowing users to view the agreement at any time. Your privacy policy should also be available for customers to access once they enter your website.
DRAGTHING ALTERNATIVES OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
Since the analytics software stores cookies on the user’s device to keep track of usage data, your privacy policy must disclose your use of cookies, the use of analytics, and how Google uses data when you use their platform. While it is a best practice to have a privacy policy on your website, if you use Google Analytics, there’s a requirement from Google to have one in place. The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), which apply to residents of the United Kingdom-one of the policies states that companies must tell users that cookies are used, and explain what the cookie is doing and why it’s there, and obtain consent to store a cookie on their device.The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which applies to California residents and gives users the ability to say “no” to the sale of their personal data.The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a European Union law that lays out the requirements for businesses and organizations that are either established or serve users in Europe on how they collect, use, and store personal data.Your data is a valuable asset, which is why you should have ownership of your (and your customers’) data and infrastructure moving forward.Ĭonsumer privacy concerns over the years have led lawmakers around the world to pass numerous privacy regulations, like: Relying on third-party vendors to process your data can be scary. With data compliance and governance being a concern for businesses, ownership of data is more crucial than ever before. As a user, you rely on Google to act ethically with your data, as it is a closed-source platform that does not allow you to view the source code, unlike an open-source alternative. Google controls what’s collected and where it’s stored. Websites that use Google Analytics do not own the data collected-Google owns it. The same study found that 85% of customers would not forgive the abuse of data from a company even if they trusted the brand. A 2019 study from Tealium showed that 97% of consumers are worried about protecting their data. What Google does with your data is a growing concern for users. Worries about privacy, accuracy, and accessibility are the leading causes of why users are quickly seeking alternatives to Google Analytics. Google Analytics has three major issuesĭespite being popular, Google Analytics users express some concerns with the platform.

This post will discuss the three most significant drawbacks of using Google Analytics and explore the benefits of open-source alternatives while also touching on alternative options to integrate with your website. The recent rise of other analytics tools plays a huge role in the number of users switching from Google Analytics to open-source alternatives. While Google Analytics is a powerful, free-to-use tool for analyzing your website traffic, users should think twice before installing it on their site.
