Privacy-Centric Analytics & Consent Management for TYPO3 (DACH Compliant)

With TYPO3 Analytics and Consent solutions, your site can respect European privacy laws. Instead of adding Google Analytics, you can still gather essential data while adhering to TTDSG, DSGVO, and protecting your visitors' privacy.

Legal Requirements for Analytics

TTDSG and DSGVO Guidelines

TTDSG (Telecommunications Telemedia Data Protection Act): Requires websites in Germany to obtain user consent before setting cookies or tracking user activity.

DSGVO (General Data Protection Regulation): EU-wide regulation that mandates explicit consent from users for any data processing, including analytics.

These regulations emphasize transparency and user consent, making compliance a must for any TYPO3 website.

Choosing the Right Consent Management Solution

Best CMPs for TYPO3 Websites

Usercentrics/Cookiebot: Popular platforms that integrate seamlessly with TYPO3, supporting privacy compliance features like Google Consent Mode v2.

dp_cookieconsent: An easy-to-implement TYPO3 extension that ensures cookie consent and helps manage which scripts are activated based on user approval.

It's crucial to select a CMP that ensures analytics scripts are only activated once users grant consent.

Analytics Tools for Privacy Compliance

Server-Side Tracking for Privacy

Advantages:

Gathers anonymized data without relying on cookies.

Tracks basic information like page views, regions, and devices.

Disadvantages:

Provides limited insights compared to full user journey tracking.

Ideal for businesses focused on SEO and basic site performance metrics while adhering to privacy laws.

Matomo vs. GA4 (Google Analytics 4)

Matomo (Self-Hosted):

Advantages: Provides full data control and easier privacy management.
Disadvantages: Requires self-hosting and maintenance.

GA4:

Advantages: Rich features, powerful integrations with Google services.
Disadvantages: Requires user consent for data collection and stores data on Google servers.

For those prioritizing control over data privacy, Matomo is ideal, while GA4 offers advanced features with the condition of user consent.

Implementing Analytics in TYPO3

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Set Up CMP

Choose and configure a CMP to manage user consent effectively.

      

Step 2: Install Analytics Tools

Install Matomo for cookieless tracking and GA4 for advanced insights, ensuring data is only collected after consent.

      

Step 3: Implement Consent Flow

Define consent categories and make sure only essential features work without consent.

      

Step 4: Test and Refine

Test consent banners on all devices.

Verify that users can withdraw consent and stop tracking if needed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Loading Scripts Before Consent: Avoid activating analytics scripts before obtaining consent from users.

Confusing Consent Requests: Keep consent options simple and user-friendly to prevent confusion.

Misunderstanding Legitimate Interest: Don’t assume that you can track data based on legitimate interest without user consent.

Not Handling Previous User Consent: Make sure users who previously consented are properly managed when the CMP is updated.

Conclusion

Implementing privacy-compliant analytics on TYPO3 websites involves choosing the right CMP, using server-side tracking where possible, and configuring analytics tools like Matomo or GA4 with user consent in mind. This approach ensures compliance with privacy laws while still allowing businesses to track important performance data.