How to Ensure Google Analytics is PECR Compliant

Are you wondering how to make sure Google Analytics is PECR compliant?

In an era where privacy laws are taken very seriously, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re compliant with all of them.

Is PECR different from GDPR? How does it work in addition to the GDPR rules?

Most importantly, how can you make sure your use of Google Analytics is compliant? In this article, we’ll go over all these questions about PECR and Google Analytics.

What is PECR?

PECR stands for Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations and they sit alongside GDPR in the UK.

PECR are rules specifically around electronic communications, like emails, texts, and marketing calls. They also apply to related technologies, like cookies, location data, and directory listings.

According to the Information Commissioner’s Office:

Some of the rules only apply to organizations that provide a public electronic communications network or service. But even if you are not a network or service provider, PECR will apply to you if you:

• market by phone, email, text or fax;
• use cookies or a similar technology on your website; or
• compile a telephone directory (or a similar public directory)

So, how do you make sure your use of Google Analytics is compliant with PECR?

How to Make Google Analytics PECR Compliant

Since Google Analytics uses cookies, making it PECR compliant is a must.

If you’re familiar with GDPR and making your analytics GDPR compliant, this will be very much the same.

In fact, if you’ve already taken steps to make your website and Google Analytics GDPR compliant, then you are already PECR compliant without taking any further steps.

If you haven’t taken any action yet or would like to revise your compliance, read on!

MonsterInsights Can Make Google Analytics PECR and GDPR Compliant

If you want to make your Google Analytics tracking compliant, there are two different methods you can use to make that happen.

Method One: In a few clicks, download the MonsterInsights plugin at the Plus level. Then, download and activate the EU Compliance addon.

Once you’ve got the addon installed and activated, you’ll be able to turn on these GDPR-compliant features:

• Anonymize IP addresses
• Disable demographics and interest reports for remarketing and advertising
• Disable UserID and author name tracking
• Disable UserID tracking for eCommerce hits, form tracking hits, and custom dimensions

Go to Insights » Settings and then click the Engagement tab.

Then, go to EU Compliance to adjust your settings.

To really dive into these features and understand why you might want to turn them on, read our complete guide to GDPR and Google Analytics.

Method Two: You can use a cookie acceptance plugin to obtain explicit consent before loading the Google Analytics tracking script. MonsterInsights integrates with Cookiebot, one of the top cookie plugins for WordPress. So, if you choose to use a plugin, we recommend this one.

With Cookiebot installed, any website visitors will be able to consent to being tracked or to opt out of tracking.

Which PECR Compliance Method is Right for Your Website?

We highly recommend going with the MonsterInsights compliance method. Here’s why:

• We stay up-to-date on laws and update the plugin quickly if anything changes
• Website visitors won’t have to click a button to be tracked or get annoyed by a cookie popup
• There’s no risk of missing tracking data
• It’s an easy-to-understand solution to a complex law

Using a cookie acceptance popup is risky because it relies on your users clicking a button to opt-in to being tracked. If they don’t click it, you don’t get data from their visits at all. Your Google Analytics tracking code won’t even fire if a user doesn’t click that “Accept” button.

Get Started with MonsterInsights Today!

More Resources on Explicit Consent

We’ve gone over the basics here about how to set up your website and Google Analytics for GDPR and PECR compliance. For more details about explicit consent and compliance for your website, we’re here for you! Check out these resources:

• GDPR and Google Analytics – How to Make Your Site Compliant
• How to Make a WooCommerce Site GDPR Compliant
• What are PECR? via the Information Commissioner’s Office
• How to Make Google Analytics Opt-out Links With MonsterInsights
• 7 Best GDPR Plugins to Help You Avoid Heavy Fines

Interested in learning more about what MonsterInsights can do? Read MonsterInsights vs. Google Analytics – What’s the Real Difference?

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