In this method, we’ll walk you through configuring the necessary settings to keep PII out of Google Analytics directly from your dashboard.
This option is best for advanced users as it gives you full control over the configuration.
Plus, since this method isn’t limited to Bonus Tips for WordPress, you can follow along even if you built your site with a different website builder .
First, you will need to log in to your Google Analytics account.
Go ahead and click the “Sign in to Analytics” button.
On the dashboard, hover over the sidebar and click on the “Admin” menu.
Once inside, locate the “Data collection and modification” section.
After that, we will click on “Data streams”.
This will take you to the table, which lists all your data streams.
Now, you can select your website from the list.
This will open the “Web Stream Details” slide-in.
From here, we’ll scroll down to the “Events” section and click “Redact data.”
On the next screen, you will see the “Redact data” menu.
The “Choose what to redact” section of this slide-in has two buttons at the top.
First, let’s redact the email addresses by clicking the button. Google Analytics will automatically exclude the email addresses from the collected data.
You can then filter out other PII by entering query parameters.
To do this, you will need to enable the “URL Query Parameter” option. Then, you can enter your query parameters in the respective field.
For example, here, we add “name”, “first_name”, “last_name” and “ip_address”.
Once everything looks good, you can save your settings.
Google Analytics will now help protect PII and keep your website privacy compliant.
Important notice: Manually configuring settings in the GA4 dashboard requires precise knowledge of the data that needs to be redacted.
This can be tricky, and even a small mistake can result in sensitive information being collected.
We recommend that you thoroughly review your data collection settings to ensure that all PII is properly deleted. Always take the necessary precautions, as improper configuration can lead to compliance issues.
Bonus Tips for Privacy Compliance on Your Website Bonus Tips for
Keeping personal information out of homeowner database analytics reports is just one way to comply with privacy regulations. We also recommend following these tips:
- Display a cookie notice on your WordPress site . This pop-up message allows users to give their consent to cookie tracking on your site. Plus, it’s very easy to set up with a powerful plugin like WPConsent .
- Create GDPR-compliant forms . With a form plugin like WPForms , you can easily add GDPR-compliant fields to your forms, disable cookies and user details, and delete user data when prompted.
- Add a GDPR comment privacy checkbox . Comment plugins like Thrive Comments can help your discussion section become GDPR compliant with just the click of a button.
For more details, check out our complete GDPR compliance guide for WordPress users.
Frequently asked questions about keeping personally identifiable information out of Google Analytics Bonus Tips for
Keeping PII out of Google Analytics it is clear that there are sectors is important for privacy and compliance. If you still have questions, feel free to check out some quick answers to common questions:
How does Google handle user privacy and data issues?
Google takes privacy seriously. It anonymizes data and complies with strict regulations like GDPR.
While Google provides tools to help businesses protect users’ privacy, it is up to them to ensure they do not collect personally identifiable information (PII).
Does Google Analytics collect personally identifiable information?
Not by default. But if you’re not careful, PII can sneak in via URLs, form submissions, or custom tracking settings. That’s why it’s important to set everything up correctly.
Do all analytics sites need cookie notices?
Yes, if your website tracks users with cookies (like Google Analytics does), privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA require you to display a cookie notice and obtain user consent.
Further Reading: More Analytics and Tracking Guides Bonus Tips for
Understanding how to keep PII out clean email of Google Analytics is just the beginning! If you want to fine-tune your tracking, improve data accuracy, and stay compliant with privacy laws, check out these helpful guides:
Google Analytics 4: Beginner’s Guide – Learn how to set up GA4 on your WordPress site and make the most of its powerful features.
- WordPress Post Analytics – Learn how to easily access and track your blog stats.
- How to Set Up Google Analytics Goals – Measure What Really Matters on Your WordPress Site.
- How to install and configure Google Tag Manager – Simplify tracking by managing all your tags in one place.
- How to track outbound links – See which external links your visitors are clicking on the most.
- How to Block WordPress Referral Spam in Google Analytics – Increase the accuracy of your reports by making sure spam requests don’t pollute your data.
- MonsterInsights vs SiteKit in-depth comparison – See how these powerful analytics plugins stack up against each other.
That’s all there is to it! We hope this guide has helped you learn how to keep personal information out of Google Analytics. You might also like to see our guide on how to get a custom email alert in Google Analytics or our expert pick of the best GDPR plugins for WordPress .
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