Understanding Do Not Track
Do Not Track (DNT) is a privacy preference that users can set in their web browsers to signal to websites they visit that they prefer not to be tracked. This preference is communicated through a DNT HTTP header sent with each request. The concept of DNT arose from a growing concern for online privacy, giving users a simple and straightforward way to assert some control over their personal information.
However, the effectiveness of DNT is contingent upon websites and analytics services honoring the request. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which oversees web standards, ceased its DNT working group efforts in January 2018 due to insufficient support and adoption among stakeholders. Subsequently, in February 2018, Apple removed the DNT feature from its Safari browser, reflecting a shift in the approach to online privacy.
Despite the lack of formal backing, WP Statistics upholds the spirit of DNT. By default, WP Statistics does not collect data from visitors who have enabled DNT in their browsers. This means that when DNT is turned on, WP Statistics will not track those users’ views or include them in analytic metrics.
Do Not Track and WP Statistics
WP Statistics respects the DNT setting by default, reflecting our commitment to privacy and user choice:
- Visitor Privacy: For visitors with DNT enabled, WP Statistics does not record or store any data that could be used to identify them individually.
- Analytics Integrity: Analytics reports will reflect data excluding DNT-enabled views, ensuring that users’ choices are respected without impacting the overall insights.
- Default Settings: The DNT-respecting functionality is active by default, aligning with our privacy-first philosophy.
Privacy Law Compliance
It is important to note that respecting DNT is not a requirement of privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). WP Statistics’ compliance with such privacy laws is not dependent on the DNT setting, as our adherence to these regulations is managed through other features and configurations designed to protect user data and ensure consent.
Changing Default Settings
While the default setting is to respect DNT, administrators have the option to modify this based on their specific needs:
- Navigate to the WP Statistics
Settings in your WordPress dashboard.
- Click on the
"Privacy & Data Protection" tab.
- Scroll to the
"User Preferences" section.
- Here, you’ll find the option
"Do Not Track (DNT)". To change the default behavior, you can toggle this option.
- Don’t forget to save your changes after making adjustments.
Legacy Considerations
For users who are updating from previous versions of WP Statistics, the DNT feature will remain active as per your existing setup. We recommend reviewing your current privacy settings to ensure they align with your desired data collection practices.
