Will Google Analytics be banned in the EU?
On the 13th of January, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) openly questioned the legal use of Google Analytics in The Netherlands. In its statement, the AP implied that the use of Google Analytics might be banned in the future.
On the 14th of August 2020, someone (let’s call it the ‘data subject’) visited a website on health topics while logged in with their credentials. The website in question used Google Analytics to track and monitor its website visitors.
A few days later, On the 18th of August 2020, NOYB (an NGO for digital rights) filed a complaint with the DSB on behalf of the ‘data subject’. The complaint was filed against both the website provider and Google, as the owner of Google Analytics.
The complaint argued that transferring data to Google violates GDPR regulation, as Google qualifies as an “electronic communication service provider”. This means that Google can be ordered to disclose data to US intelligence services on EU citizens. This means that the personal data of EU citizens is insufficiently protected from US surveillance and therefore is in violation of GDPR regulation.
This is the critical point in the complaint. To put it bluntly: It’s not about the use of Google Analytics. It’s about the transfer of your personal data to US providers.
