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The Big Cookie Hangover

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Why it’s time to rethink data privacy – and how minimalist websites make all the difference.

All You Can Click? Those Days Are Over

The internet used to feel like an open buffet: grab anything that looked useful or shiny.

A plugin for your newsletter? Sure, why not. Google Maps on the contact page? Of course. And Google Analytics? “Well, you have to have that, right?”

Today, things look very different.

Running a website now means navigating a maze of cookie banners, data privacy assessments, warnings about Google Fonts, and legal texts that are longer than your actual privacy policy.

And what do users do?

They click “Accept” just to make the pop-up go away—without having a clue what they’ve agreed to.

Or worse: they leave immediately.

That’s not what trust looks like.

Collect Less, Understand More

Data minimization might sound like a sacrifice at first.

But actually, it’s the opposite: a deliberate, thoughtful way of handling personal data.

Only collect what you really need.

No more. No guesswork. And definitely not “because everyone else is doing it.”

In the GDPR, this principle is called data minimization – and it’s right at the top, in Article 5:

“Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed.”

The principle in practice:

  • A contact form? Usually just a name and a message field is enough. A phone number is rarely necessary.
  • Analytics? Shorten the IP address, skip the cookies – and you’ve got solid tracking without the baggage.
  • A map on your site? Doesn't have to be Google by default. There are privacy-friendly alternatives that don't send data overseas.
  • Fonts? Host them locally instead of pulling them from Google's servers.

Why this is the better way:

  • Fewer consent popups, fewer legal headaches
  • More control over what your website is actually doing
  • More trust from users – because nothing sneaky is happening in the background

Data minimization isn’t a step backwards. It’s a step forward – toward clarity and responsibility.

It saves more than just data.

It saves your users’ nerves – and probably yours too.

And it lays the foundation for a web that doesn’t need to know everything –

just what really matters.

⚠️ The Usual Suspects – and How to Do It Better

Five common data privacy pitfalls – and their privacy-friendly alternatives.

Many websites were built with good intentions – but often with plugins that log more user data than necessary.

What used to be “convenient” now raises legal concerns and trust issues.

The good news?

Most of it can be fixed with a few smart decisions.

Here are five common pitfalls – and what we recommend instead.

  • Google Analytics – the classic with side effects

    Problem:

    Google Analytics tracking is not GDPR-compliant without explicit consent. It logs IP addresses, user behavior, session times – often far more than necessary.

    Better:

    Switch to Matomo, hosted on your own server. No cookies, IP anonymized, and no data sent to third parties. You get the insights you need – without shadow profiles.

  • Google Fonts – nice look, hidden cost

    Problem:

    Many websites load fonts directly from Google servers, which means transmitting IP addresses – a practice that has already led to mass legal warnings.

    Better:

    Host fonts locally. Same look, full control, and no legal headaches.

  • Contact forms – often too curious

    Problem:

    Mandatory phone fields, invisible third-party captchas, unclear data handling – forms often collect more than they should.

    Better:

    Keep it simple: only the necessary fields, clear explanations of how data is used, and no hidden tracking. Optional: lightweight spam protection without third-party tools.

  • Google Maps – convenient, but data-hungry

    Problem:

    Google Maps starts loading user data to US-based servers as soon as the map appears. Under the GDPR, this requires prior consent – and even then, it’s not without legal risk.

    Better:

    Use maps powered by OpenStreetMap or tools like dr-dsgvo Map. Hosted locally or via European servers, with no data transfer unless users click to activate the map.

  • “Just install a plugin” – and suddenly everything gets tracked

    Problem:

    Many popular plugins come with hidden trackers, external scripts, or auto-connections to third-party services.

    Better:

    Only use what you understand and truly need. Audit regularly, and choose alternatives that are transparent and data-minimizing

Final Thought

It’s not about more tech – it’s about better decisions.

Privacy doesn’t start with a cookie banner.

It starts with a simple question:

Do I really need this?

But Doesn’t Everyone Want Analytics?

Why less data can lead to better decisions – and what really matters.

It’s tempting: If you run a website, you want to know what’s going on.

How many visitors? Where do they come from? What do they click?

And just like that, a simple site turns into a data vacuum – packed with trackers, pixels, and third-party scripts.

Plenty of tech, very little substance.

The Real Question:

How much of that data do you actually need?

  • Do you check your analytics regularly?
  • Do you base real decisions on those numbers?
  • Or is the tracking just running in the background—out of habit?

The Better Way: Track Less, Understand More

  • Setzen Sie klare Ziele: Was möchten Sie eigentlich wissen?
  • Verwenden Sie Tools wie Matomo – lokal gehostet, ohne Cookies, DSGVO-konform.
  • Fokussieren Sie sich auf das Wesentliche: Besucherzahlen, Seitenaufrufe, Verweildauer. Mehr braucht es oft nicht.

A Different Perspective:

If you asked every person who walked into your store where they came from, how old they are, and what they plan to do next – chances are, they wouldn’t come back.

It’s not so different online.

Trust isn’t built through control.

It’s built through clarity, simplicity, and respect.

You Don’t Build Trust with Plugins

Privacy is more than a legal requirement.

It reflects how carefully someone operates. Whether you understand what's going on behind the scenes – or just hope some plugin takes care of it.

Especially online, trust isn't built on big words - it's built on solid execution:

  • In the way your site is structured
  • in how transparent you are with data
  • and in that quiet sense that nothing here feels hidden. Someone has thought this through.

Privacy is a mindset

  • if you collect data just because "everyone else is," you'll lose sight of what's really important.
  • If you understand your technology, you can explain it - and improve it.
  • When you take responsibility, you don't need hidden helpers - just clear, honest solutions.

Or to put it simply:

A good site isn't defined by its certificates - it's defined by the fact that it raises no questions.

Privacy isn’t a roadblock.

If anything, it shows your users that you take them seriously.

And sometimes, all it takes to stand out is a single, quiet sentence:

“We don’t need that.”

For those who don’t just click – but want to understand.

Whether it’s cookie banners, fonts, or tracking tools – data privacy often raises more questions than it should.

Here you’ll find clear answers to common pitfalls – technically sound, easy to follow, and refreshingly human.

  • What does privacy-friendly web design mean – and why does it matter?

    Short answer:

    Privacy-friendly (or data-minimizing) web design means only collecting the personal data that is truly necessary – and avoiding everything that isn’t essential to the site’s function.

    Detailed explanation:

    Privacy-friendly web design is an approach where websites are built to collect and process as little personal data as possible – right from the start.

    This is based on the principle of data minimization, as outlined in the GDPR (Article 5, Section 1, Letter c). It requires that personal data must be adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the purpose of processing – no more, no guessing, no “just in case.”

    In practice, that means:

    • No unnecessary tracking

    • No embedded third-party services that send data automatically

    • No required fields that aren’t truly needed

    Instead, the idea is to build with intention: only what’s needed, nothing more – technically clean, legally sound, and respectful to your users.

    This approach not only reduces your legal risk (e.g. consent issues or warnings about data misuse), but also improves site performance, loading times and overall usability.

    In short:

    Less clutter, more clarity. And a website that doesn’t just look good – it feels right.

  • Is a cookie banner required if no tracking tools are used?

    Short answer:

    If your website does not use non-essential cookies or similar technologies, then in most cases, no cookie banner is required – but your privacy policy still needs to be clear and complete.

    Detailed explanation:

    Cookie banners are only mandatory when a site uses cookies or similar technologies that are not strictly necessary for the basic functioning of the site. These include:

    • Tracking tools like Google Analytics

    • Ad networks or social media pixels

    • Embedded third-party content that loads automatically (e.g., YouTube, Google Maps)

    If your site avoids these elements and instead uses:

    • locally hosted fonts,

    • cookie-free analytics tools (like self-hosted Matomo),

    • or two-click solutions for external services,

    …you can often operate without a consent banner.

    Important: Even if no banner is needed, all technologies used must still be explained clearly in your privacy policy.

    👉 Note: This is not legal advice. When in doubt, consult a qualified privacy expert to assess your specific case.

  • Is Google Analytics still GDPR-compliant – or should I switch to something else?

    Google Analytics collects extensive data about your website visitors – including IP addresses, device information, and location data. These details are typically transferred to servers in the United States.

    Several European data protection authorities – including in Austria, France, and Germany – have made it clear in recent years:

    Using Google Analytics is not automatically GDPR-compliant.

    Even with user consent, legal risks remain.

    The reason lies in the “Schrems II” ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from July 16, 2020. The court invalidated the EU–US Privacy Shield, citing that the United States does not provide a level of data protection equivalent to the EU.

    What makes this critical:

    US surveillance laws grant government agencies broad access to personal data, and EU citizens have no effective legal remedies.

    This means that consent alone is not enough to justify the use of Google Analytics under the GDPR.

    Additional safeguards are required – but these are often complex to implement in a legally secure way.

  • What is Matomo – and why is it better for privacy than Google Analytics?

    Short answer:

    Matomo is a privacy-friendly web analytics tool that can be run locally and without cookies – with no data sent to third parties.

    Detailed explanation:

    Matomo (formerly Piwik) is an open-source alternative to Google Analytics. Its key strength: it can be hosted entirely on your own server, meaning no personal data leaves your infrastructure or gets transferred abroad.

    When properly configured – with no cookies and anonymized IP addresses – Matomo can be used without requiring cookie consent banners, making it easier to comply with privacy regulations and maintain a clean, user-friendly site experience.

    Matomo covers all essential analytics needs:

    • Visitor numbers, page views, time on site

    • Device and location info (fully anonymized)

    • Goal tracking and conversions – without creating user profiles

    For many businesses, Matomo is the privacy-focused, GDPR-conscious choice for web analytics – giving you insights without compromising user trust.

    👉 Note: Proper configuration is key. A legal or technical review is always recommended to ensure compliance.

  • Are Google Fonts GDPR-compliant – or should I host them locally?

    Short answer:

    A privacy notice alone is not enough. To comply with data protection rules, Google Fonts should always be hosted locally.

    Detailed explanation:

    Many websites use Google Fonts loaded directly from Google’s servers when a page is accessed. This automatically sends the visitor’s IP address to Google – which is considered personal data under the GDPR.

    Several courts – including the Regional Court of Munich (2022) – have ruled that embedding Google Fonts without user consent violates the GDPR and may lead to legal warnings or claims for damages.

    Simply mentioning it in your privacy policy does not solve the issue, because the data transfer occurs as soon as the page loads, without giving users a real choice.

    The safer solution:

    Download and host Google Fonts locally. It’s technically simple, looks the same, and prevents any data from being shared with third parties.

    👉 Pro tip: Other external services (like YouTube, maps, or social media embeds) should also be reviewed for privacy compliance or replaced with safer alternatives.

  • How can websites be analyzed in a privacy-friendly way – without losing valuable insights?

    Short answer:

    Even without cookies or tracking profiles, you can collect meaningful data – focused, anonymized, and fully GDPR-compliant.

    Detailed explanation:

    Privacy-first doesn’t mean giving up on analytics. In fact, it often leads to clearer insights and better decisions.

    With tools like Matomo, hosted locally and configured for data minimization, you can gather key metrics without collecting personal data:

    • Page views and visitor numbers

    • Time spent on specific pages

    • Entry and exit pages

    • Anonymized device and location data

    All of this works without cookies, without third-party tools, and often without a consent banner, depending on your configuration.

    Privacy-friendly analytics means: less noise, more focus – and exactly the insights you need to improve your site.

    👉 Tip: All external services should be clearly explained in your privacy policy, including potential data transfers to third countries.

  • How can websites be analyzed in a privacy-friendly way – without losing valuable insights?

    Short answer:

    Even without cookies or tracking profiles, you can collect meaningful data – focused, anonymized, and fully GDPR-compliant.

    Detailed explanation:

    Privacy-first doesn’t mean giving up on analytics. In fact, it often leads to clearer insights and better decisions.

    With tools like Matomo, hosted locally and configured for data minimization, you can gather key metrics without collecting personal data:

    • Page views and visitor numbers

    • Time spent on specific pages

    • Entry and exit pages

    • Anonymized device and location data

    All of this works without cookies, without third-party tools, and often without a consent banner, depending on your configuration.

    Privacy-friendly analytics means: less noise, more focus – and exactly the insights you need to improve your site.

  • How can you check if a website is GDPR-compliant?

    Short answer:

    A GDPR-compliant website handles data transparently, processes only what’s necessary, and puts users in control at all times.

    Detailed explanation:

    Whether a website is compliant with the GDPR depends on multiple factors – not just whether it has a cookie banner. Key aspects include:

    • Is only necessary data collected, or are there hidden trackers running?

    • Is there a clear and understandable privacy policy?

    • Are third-party services like Google Fonts, Maps, or YouTube embedded in a privacy-friendly way?

    • Is tracking only active after consent – or is the site using cookies without permission?

    • Do users have real control and genuine choice?

    Many compliance issues arise not from bad intent, but from uncontrolled tech integrations – via templates, plugins, or external services.

    Tip:

    For a first impression, use privacy-friendly website scanners. For real peace of mind, consult a legal or technical expert – or build your site from the ground up with data minimization and transparency in mind.

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