EU Cookie Law and Google Analytics

Dan Howe Silver
Online Marketer at UK third sector organisations

27 October 2011 15:50pm

Hey,
There's some strange and conflicting reports about how EU Cookie Law will affect the use of Google Analytics out there.

Can anyone clear it up? Will Google Analytics be in the UK?

Cheers,

Dan
Matt Clarke MSc
Ecommerce Director at Monocore

29 October 2011 07:26am

Hi Dan,
My understanding of it is that you will only be able to use Google Analytics if the user first opts-in to being tracked.

There have been a couple of examples of people implementing this and publishing their before-and-after tracking data. The ICO saw a huge drop in the traffic it was able to record, as did a Swiss government site.

As yet, to my knowledge, Google has said nothing about any plans it may have to assist those who may be forced to comply with the legislation. It also remains to be seen whether many sites will even bother to implement it.

Matt
Mark Patron Platinum
CEO at RedEye

11 November 2011 11:19am

Hi Dan,

You are right; reports are conflicting because the regulator, the ICO, will only give clear guidance on how to adhere with the new legislation in March 2012. Until then see the ICO's present advice on this here:

http://www.ico.gov.uk/news/current_topics/new_pecr_rules.aspx

Mark
Dan Howe Silver
Online Marketer at UK third sector organisations

11 November 2011 11:33am

Thanks so much for the help