Privacy and Compliance
Privacy regulations have transformed how applications collect and use data. What was once a free-for-all now requires careful consideration of user rights, consent mechanisms, and data handling practices. Understanding these requirements isn't just about avoiding fines — it's about building trust with your users.
Key Regulations
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) applies to anyone processing data of EU residents, regardless of where your company is located. It requires explicit consent before tracking, gives users rights to access and delete their data, and mandates clear privacy policies. Violations can result in fines up to 4% of global revenue.
CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) gives California residents the right to know what data is collected, request deletion, and opt out of data sales. It's less strict than GDPR but still requires significant compliance efforts.
Other regulations follow similar patterns: LGPD in Brazil, PIPEDA in Canada, POPIA in South Africa. The trend is clear — privacy regulation is expanding globally.
Compliance Requirements
Meeting these regulations requires several components:
Cookie consent banners must appear before any tracking begins. Users must actively opt in (GDPR) or at least have clear opt-out options (CCPA). Pre-checked boxes don't count as consent.
Privacy policies must clearly explain what data you collect, why you collect it, how long you keep it, and who you share it with. Vague language doesn't satisfy regulators.
Data access requests mean users can ask for copies of all data you have about them. You need systems to fulfill these requests within required timeframes (usually 30 days).
Data deletion requests require you to remove user data when asked. This includes backups and data shared with third parties.
Data processing agreements are contracts with any third-party services that handle your user data. Your analytics provider, for example, needs a DPA in place.
Privacy-Respecting Approaches
You can gain valuable insights without invasive tracking:
Anonymize data by removing personal identifiers. Track that "a user" completed signup, not that "user@example.com" did.
Aggregate only — count totals rather than tracking individuals. "500 users visited the pricing page" tells you what you need without identifying anyone.
Self-host analytics to keep all data under your control. Tools like PostHog and Plausible offer self-hosted options.
Use privacy-focused tools like Plausible or Fathom that don't use cookies and don't track individuals. They're GDPR-compliant by design, eliminating consent banner requirements.
Practical Implementation
Start by auditing what you currently track. Do you actually use all that data? Remove tracking you don't need.
Implement consent management properly. Don't load tracking scripts until users consent. Respect "Do Not Track" browser settings.
Document your data practices. Know exactly what you collect, where it's stored, and how long you keep it. This documentation helps with both compliance and responding to user requests.