The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) remains a central part of online compliance in 2025. Websites that process personal data must ensure they meet the requirements of the GDPR. In this article, I will explain how to optimize your website for GDPR compliance to meet legal requirements while improving the user experience.
- Cookies and Cookie Banners
One of the key aspects of GDPR optimization is the handling of cookies. Websites must inform users clearly and transparently about the use of cookies and obtain their consent. Personally, I like to use the CookieYes plugin, which provides an automatic cookie scanner. It’s very functional and helps identify all cookies used on the site and obtain appropriate consent.
Another plugin I recently came across is CCM 19, which also offers excellent features for cookie management.
- Mandatory Texts: Privacy Policy, Imprint, Liability Disclaimer
A GDPR-compliant website requires the proper mandatory texts. These include the privacy policy, imprint, and liability disclaimer. These texts should be created by a lawyer or through an online generator and checked regularly for updates. It’s especially important to list external services like social networks or Google services and explain transparently how data is processed.
- Store Google Fonts Locally
Using Google Fonts on a website can cause GDPR issues, as the fonts are loaded directly from Google’s servers, which can lead to the transmission of personal data. Therefore, it is necessary to store Google Fonts locally. When developing projects with ACF, I upload fonts locally in various formats (ttf, svg, woff, woff2, eot) to avoid the connection to Google.
If some plugins or page builders use Google Fonts that are not stored locally, I recommend the “Local Google Fonts” plugin. This plugin interrupts the connection to Google’s servers and stores the fonts locally on the website.
- Google Maps and Privacy
Using Google Maps on websites is another issue that can be problematic from a privacy perspective due to the connection to Google’s servers. However, a solution has recently been introduced where the Google Maps display is only loaded after user consent.
A plugin that offers this functionality is the Aweos Google Maps Iframe Load per Click Plugin. It blocks the connection to Google Maps until the user explicitly consents to load the map display. Alternatively, the CCM 19 plugin can also be used for this. For a more privacy-friendly solution, you can also use OpenStreetMaps instead of Google Maps.
- ReCAPTCHA – Alternative to Google
Google’s ReCAPTCHA is a widely used solution to prevent bots on forms. However, ReCAPTCHA often includes Google Fonts and cookies, which can be problematic from a privacy perspective. After some tests, I found that hCaptcha is a reliable alternative that does not use Google data and meets the GDPR requirements.
- Double Opt-in for Email Marketing
If you are running email marketing or have forms on your website (e.g., for newsletter sign-ups), you must ensure that users provide their consent through a double opt-in process. Plugins like Mailchimp or other email marketing tools typically offer the option to enable double opt-in to comply with GDPR regulations.
- Consent for Forms
Forms on websites must obtain explicit consent from users before processing personal data. This is particularly important for contact forms, registration forms, and newsletter forms. Users must be fully informed about what data is collected and how it will be used.
- Accessibility
One of the new challenges for websites in 2025 is accessibility. Websites must be accessible not only to all users but also to people with disabilities. This is an aspect that many agencies have not fully addressed. A good plugin that helps with this is All in One Accessibility, which allows for easy implementation of accessibility features.
- SSL Certificate
An SSL certificate is now a must for any website that processes personal data. It ensures a secure connection between the user and the website and protects against data misuse. An SSL certificate is not only a technical standard but also an essential element of GDPR optimization, as it ensures that all transmitted data is encrypted.
Conclusion
Optimizing a website for GDPR compliance is an ongoing process that needs to be regularly reviewed and updated. With the right tools and plugins like CookieYes, hCaptcha, Local Google Fonts, and All in One Accessibility, website owners can ensure that their site meets data protection requirements. Early implementation of GDPR measures not only protects against legal issues but also fosters user trust and provides a better user experience.