Telekommunikation-Digitale-Dienste-Datenschutz-Gesetz (aka TDDDG) is a privacy law that restricts how German citizens’ data is collected and processed. This law doesn’t replace the European GDPR, but only strengthens privacy protection in Germany. It came into force on December 1, 2021, and applies to digital businesses and organizations.

In short, to comply with TDDDG, you need to receive visitors’ consent to store cookies or access their device data like screen resolution, browser plugins and the like. In this article, we’ll show you a few ways to set up Piwik PRO and follow the TDDDG guidelines. But before you decide on one, consult your legal team.

Ask visitors for consent

One way is to place a consent form on your website and ask visitors for consent to the collection and use of their data. You can then collect such data from people who consent. For visitors who choose not to consent, you have two options:

• Collect data without using cookies
• Don’t collect data (The safest option.)

To make sure Piwik PRO doesn’t access data from a visitor’s device without their consent, turn on Don’t collect visitor’s device data.

Here’s how you can set it up:

1. Follow the GDPR guidelines. Read more

2. Go to Administration > Sites & apps > Privacy and use one of these configurations:

Option 1

• Consent management tool: On
• Collect anonymous data from non-consenting visitors: On
• Use visitor cookies: Off
• Don’t collect visitor’s device data: On

or

Option 2

• Consent management tool: On
• Collect anonymous data from non-consenting visitors: Off
• Don’t collect visitor’s device data: On

3. Turn on Don’t collect visitor’s device data. When this option is on, Piwik PRO won’t read screen resolution and browser plugins from the visitor’s device without their consent.

Setting: Administration > Sites & apps > Privacy > Compliances > Don’t collect visitor’s device data: On

Don’t ask visitors for consent

Another way is to stop using cookies and collect less detailed data about your visitors. The advantage of this method is that you won’t have to ask for cookie consent. However, you’ll still need to make sure that Piwik PRO doesn’t access data from a visitor’s device by turning on an additional setting: Don’t collect visitor’s device data.

Here’s what the setup could look like:

1. Follow the GDPR guidelines. Read more

2. Turn off Consent management tool  and turn off Use visitor cookies.

Settings: Go to Administration > Sites & apps > Privacy and set:

• Consent management tool: Off
• Use visitor cookies: Off

3. Turn on Don’t collect visitor’s device data. When this option is on, Piwik PRO won’t read screen resolution and browser plugins from the visitor’s device.

Setting: Administration > Sites & apps > Privacy > Don’t collect visitor’s device data: On