German says Google Analytics is illegal

Cleo · 2009-11-24, 07:16 PM

Full article is here

Here is a copy and paste of it,

[Germany] Several federal and regional government officials in Germany are trying to put a ban on Google Analytics, the search giant’s free software product that allows website owners and publishers to get detailed statistics about the number, whereabouts and search behavior of their visitors (and much more).

According to an article in today’s Zeit Online (poor Google translation here), multiple federal and state government officials charged with guarding over national data protection are convinced that Google Analytics is against the law in Germany and are mulling imposing fines on companies who use the service to gather detailed stats based on their website visitors’ usage patterns without the explicit consent of those visitors.

Still according to the Zeit Online article, an approximate 13% of German website publishers (meaning those with sites that have .de as their TLD) currently use Google Analytics, including several websites of leading media organizations, political parties and pharmaceutical companies. The government officials are particularly wary about the information Google is able to collect on websites of health insurance companies and the like, saying Google could conceivably create profiles of people that would include information about their interests, lifestyles, consumption patterns, political and sexual preferences.

This isn’t the first time German privacy protection officials have voiced their concerns about the Google Analytics service, as it had earlier criticized the search giant over keeping everyone ‘in the dark’ about which information they’re collecting exactly and how much identifiable data is sent to and stored on servers located on U.S. soil. German laws prohibit such data to leave the country, they claim.

Google Germany’s Per Meyerdierks, however, says the company is well within its rights to process user data in the United States because it respects the Safe Harbour treaty between the EU and the USA. He argues that an opt-out would be entirely unnecessary, and that users always have the option to refuse cookies anyway.

One German lawyer that gets cited in the article says the penalties could amount up to €50,000 (about $75,000) per website that uses Google Analytics to keep track of its visitors’ usage patterns.

Fonz · 2009-11-25, 03:52 AM

Those Germans had some more silly ideas in the past, look how that turned out

Cleo · 2009-11-25, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fonz

Those Germans had some more silly ideas in the past, look how that turned out

Yeah they might up end up with Google putting up a big wall right down the middle of it.

Useless · 2009-11-25, 07:42 AM

I can appreciate them trying to protect the privacy of their people if that is, in fact, what they are doing, but this is the Internet age. All governments need to wake the heck up and get with the program.

Ramster · 2009-11-25, 09:26 AM

That's idiotic!! It's idiotic that a web site owner cannot know where a server came from. Any server software tells them the same thing (not as detailed but country yes) There is tons of software that does this.

LAJ · 2009-11-30, 11:27 AM

If anything it should be made illegal due to it underreporting traffic lol...

Adult Web Host · 2009-11-30, 01:28 PM

Go figure the Germans would come up with something like this. I use Google Analytics all the time and I can't see much difference from other traffic tools.

Fob · 2009-11-30, 02:14 PM

they can always block germany from using google analytics...lol

tickler · 2009-11-30, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adult Web Host

I use Google Analytics all the time and I can't see much difference from other traffic tools.

Except the big G is apparently getting involved in the affiliate game, and you are handing them a lot of info for them to make decisions.

urb · 2009-12-02, 04:43 AM

I'm with the Germans on this one. They make great cars, excellent sausages and quality beers. How can they be wrong about G?

stuveltje · 2009-12-04, 02:58 PM

I give you 3 reasons why i like the germans!

1: they have great food and beer
2: ........ahummmm lett me think...
3: still thinking...............

oke i ment 1 good reason

Useless · 2009-12-04, 10:27 PM

Let's not forget Claudia Schiffer.

Max@PuZcash.com · 2009-12-05, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

Let's not forget Claudia Schiffer.

... and Heidi Klum :-)

2009-11-24, 07:16 PM	#1
Cleo Subversive filth of the hedonistic decadent West Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Southeast Florida Posts: 27,936	German says Google Analytics is illegal Full article is here Here is a copy and paste of it, [Germany] Several federal and regional government officials in Germany are trying to put a ban on Google Analytics, the search giant’s free software product that allows website owners and publishers to get detailed statistics about the number, whereabouts and search behavior of their visitors (and much more). According to an article in today’s Zeit Online (poor Google translation here), multiple federal and state government officials charged with guarding over national data protection are convinced that Google Analytics is against the law in Germany and are mulling imposing fines on companies who use the service to gather detailed stats based on their website visitors’ usage patterns without the explicit consent of those visitors. Still according to the Zeit Online article, an approximate 13% of German website publishers (meaning those with sites that have .de as their TLD) currently use Google Analytics, including several websites of leading media organizations, political parties and pharmaceutical companies. The government officials are particularly wary about the information Google is able to collect on websites of health insurance companies and the like, saying Google could conceivably create profiles of people that would include information about their interests, lifestyles, consumption patterns, political and sexual preferences. This isn’t the first time German privacy protection officials have voiced their concerns about the Google Analytics service, as it had earlier criticized the search giant over keeping everyone ‘in the dark’ about which information they’re collecting exactly and how much identifiable data is sent to and stored on servers located on U.S. soil. German laws prohibit such data to leave the country, they claim. Google Germany’s Per Meyerdierks, however, says the company is well within its rights to process user data in the United States because it respects the Safe Harbour treaty between the EU and the USA. He argues that an opt-out would be entirely unnecessary, and that users always have the option to refuse cookies anyway. One German lawyer that gets cited in the article says the penalties could amount up to €50,000 (about $75,000) per website that uses Google Analytics to keep track of its visitors’ usage patterns. __________________ Free Rides on Uber and Lyft Uber Car: uberTzTerri Lyft Car: TZ896289

2009-11-25, 03:52 AM	#2
Fonz Former pr0n slinger. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Antwerp, Belgium Posts: 7,932	Those Germans had some more silly ideas in the past, look how that turned out __________________ See how I abuse little trees on my Shumi no Bonsai Blog

2009-11-25, 07:42 AM	#4
Useless Certified Nice Person Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dirty Undies, NY Posts: 11,268	I can appreciate them trying to protect the privacy of their people if that is, in fact, what they are doing, but this is the Internet age. All governments need to wake the heck up and get with the program. __________________ Click here to purchase a bridge I'm selling.

2009-11-25, 09:26 AM	#5
Ramster Life is good Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 11,858	That's idiotic!! It's idiotic that a web site owner cannot know where a server came from. Any server software tells them the same thing (not as detailed but country yes) There is tons of software that does this. __________________ Pornstar Legends \| Live Cam Model Shows \| Hungarian Girls Skype: robmurray999

2009-11-30, 11:27 AM	#6
LAJ A woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Austin Posts: 56	If anything it should be made illegal due to it underreporting traffic lol... __________________ Retain Attorney Eric Bernstein jay at ynot dot com

2009-11-30, 01:28 PM	#7
Adult Web Host If something goes wrong at the plant, blame the guy who can't speak English Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 34	Go figure the Germans would come up with something like this. I use Google Analytics all the time and I can't see much difference from other traffic tools. __________________

2009-11-30, 02:14 PM	#8
Fob Rock stars ... is there anything they don't know? Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 12	they can always block germany from using google analytics...lol __________________ porn porn porn

2009-12-02, 04:43 AM	#10
urb All the way from Room 101 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 3,557	I'm with the Germans on this one. They make great cars, excellent sausages and quality beers. How can they be wrong about G? __________________

2009-12-04, 02:58 PM	#11
stuveltje Live and learn. And take very careful notes! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Sunny Holland Posts: 6,157	I give you 3 reasons why i like the germans! 1: they have great food and beer 2: ........ahummmm lett me think... 3: still thinking............... oke i ment 1 good reason __________________ Canadian Sexlinks - submit Erotica search -submit

2009-12-04, 10:27 PM	#12
Useless Certified Nice Person Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dirty Undies, NY Posts: 11,268	Let's not forget Claudia Schiffer. __________________ Click here to purchase a bridge I'm selling.