Mar 07, 2023 15:00:00

Norwegian regulators announced a provisional conclusion that ``the use of Google Analytics is illegal'', and the possibility of prohibiting the use of Google Analytics

Following recommendations by

the Austrian data protection authority , the French data protection authority , and the Italian regulator to ban the use of Google Analytics, the Norwegian data protection authority, Datatilsynet , said, ``The use of Google Analytics is subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It has reached a tentative conclusion that it violates the transfer rules.'

Varsel om vedtak i Google Analytics-saken | Datatilsynet
https://www.datatilsynet.no/aktuelt/aktuelle-nyheter-2023/varsel-om-vedtak-i-google-analytics-saken/

Norway takes a stance against Google Analytics

https://www.simpleanalytics.com/blog/norway-takes-a-stance-against-google-analytics

When using Google Analytics, it is necessary to send personal data such as cookies and IP addresses to Google. Regarding this data transmission to Google, the Austrian data protection NGO noyb claimed that 'there is a risk of being monitored by the US government and violates the transfer rules of the GDPR,' and filed a lawsuit with the European Economic Area (EEA). I am filing. As a result of the complaint by noyb, regulatory authorities in Austria, France, and Italy have recommended prohibiting the use of Google Analytics.

Italian authorities recommend prohibiting the use of Google Analytics - GIGAZINE

Like other European countries that have banned the use of Google Analytics, the Norwegian data protection authority Datailsynet is also investigating Google Analytics, and on March 1, 2023, ``The use of Google Analytics is subject to GDPR transfer rules. It issued a tentative conclusion that it violates the According to the data analysis site Simple Analytics , based on this conclusion, Norwegian authorities may eventually accept noyb's complaint and take measures to ban Google Analytics.

``Norway is clearly in line with the rest of Europe under noyb's opinion on the use of Google Analytics,'' said Tobias Judin, section manager at Datailsynet.

If Google is sued, it will have three weeks to issue a statement on Datailsynet's preliminary conclusion that 'Google Analytics violates the GDPR.' In addition, the Google Analytics GDPR violation issue is not limited to the Norwegian data protection authority, but we will also share our conclusions with other relevant data protection authorities in Europe. Also, if Google dissatisfies the decision, it must file an objection within one month.

Google developed Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and recommended migration from Universal Analytics (UA). Although noyb and Datailsynet's investigations are aimed at UA, Datailsynet points out that regulatory issues continue to arise in GA4.

Datatilsynet plans to make a final decision on whether to use Google Analytics in Norway at the earliest in late April 2023.