Privacy & Consent Issues
Privacy and consent issues affect user trust, legal compliance, and increasingly, tracking accuracy. With regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and browser changes limiting third-party cookies, proper consent management is critical.
Why Privacy Issues Matter
Legal Compliance
- GDPR (EU): Fines up to €20 million or 4% of annual revenue
- CCPA (California): Fines up to $7,500 per intentional violation
- Other regional regulations expanding globally
User Trust
- Clear privacy practices build customer confidence
- Consent banners affect user experience
- Data breaches damage brand reputation
Tracking Accuracy
- Improper consent blocks legitimate tracking
- iOS/browser restrictions require consent mode
- Server-side tracking requires consent handling
Common Privacy Issues
Cookie Consent Banner
Missing or improperly configured cookie consent that fails to meet regulatory requirements.
Tracking Without Consent
Tracking pixels and scripts firing before user consent is obtained, violating GDPR and CCPA.
Third-Party Script Compliance
Third-party scripts loading before consent is granted, violating privacy regulations.
Cross-Site Tracking & Fingerprinting
Cross-site tracking via third-party cookies and browser fingerprinting techniques.
PII Exposure
Personally Identifiable Information leaking through URLs, query parameters, and analytics data layers.
Data Retention Policies
Lack of proper data retention policies and user data deletion mechanisms.
Quick Diagnostic
Run through this checklist to identify privacy issues:
| Check | Compliant | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Cookie banner present | Visible on first visit | Missing banner |
| Consent required before tracking | Analytics wait for consent | Scripts fire pre-consent |
| Consent preferences saved | Preferences persist | Consent asked on every visit |
| Opt-out mechanism works | Tracking stops when declined | Tracking continues after decline |
| Privacy policy accessible | Linked in footer/banner | Missing or hidden |
| Data subject rights | Process for requests | No mechanism for DSAR |
Tools for Privacy Auditing
- Cookiebot Scanner
- Browser DevTools Network tab
- Cookie scanning browser extensions
- Consent Mode debugging in GTM