GDPR-compliant plugins that cannot be configured to view IP addresses internally – [Independent Analytics – Google Analytics Alternative for WordPress] Review

Google is an American company. However, Google was sanctioned in Europe for violating GDPR. GDPR does not matter which country a website is operated in. If a user is in Europe, they are subject to GDPR. Simply put, a European user searches for something on Google. Then they enter a site that uses Google Ads. There, the content that the European user searches for is displayed in Google Ads on that site. Screenshots of that, screenshots of the search history, can be evidence that can be used to sanction the site. It does not matter which country the site is operated in. Several European countries have issued provisional recommendations regarding the possibility of illegality of Google Analytics. The use of Google Analytics and Google Search Console may be subject to GDPR sanctions. In order to avoid GDPR sanctions, it is preferable to have only GDPR-compliant access analysis plugins installed on your website. Some access analysis plugins can display IP addresses depending on the settings. The use of such plugins may be suspected of obtaining IP addresses. In Independent Analytics, there is no setting that allows you to see IP addresses. The use of Independent Analytics means that site administrators cannot see the IP addresses of site visitors. Independent Analytics allows you to check the number of visitors by country and city. GDPR recommends that you ask for the visitor’s consent if you can check the number of visitors by country and city. Independent Analytics claims that no pop-ups are required. I think that opinions may differ depending on the interpretation of legal experts. Independent Analytics’ developers are very flexible and will respond immediately to inquiries. Therefore, it is clear that it will always be improved to a good plugin that complies with the law. If you want to consolidate your GDPR-compliant access analysis plugin and make compliance the pillar of your website, Independent Analytics is a recommended option. And Independent Analytics is also recommended for people who belong to countries outside of Europe. For example, in Japan, the revised Personal Information Protection Act was made stricter from April 2022, and the fine amount for individuals was increased from “less than 300,000 yen” to “less than 1 million yen” in Japanese yen. The fine amount for corporations was increased from “less than 1 million yen” to “less than 100 million yen” in Japanese yen. Therefore, laws to protect similar personal information are being developed in countries other than Europe as well. I think this is a global trend. Therefore, we recommend that site operators around the world, including in Europe, use GDPR-compliant Independent Analytics.