GDPR for WordPress

The EU Commission formally withdrew the ePrivacy Regulation on February 11, 2026, clearing the path for the Digital Omnibus package to absorb cookie consent rules directly into GDPR. This could shift some EU cookie categories from opt-in to opt-out, introduce browser-signal-based consent similar to Global Privacy Control, and make current WordPress consent banner configurations obsolete. With GDPR fines reaching €5.88 billion cumulatively and 40-70% of EU visitors already rejecting cookies, WordPress store owners need tracking architectures that work regardless of which consent model wins. First-party server-side tracking remains compliant under any regulatory framework because data processing happens on infrastructure you control.

GDPR fines have reached €5.88 billion cumulative, with €1.2 billion issued in 2024 alone. Dark pattern enforcement is now a priority—75% of websites fail basic consent banner requirements. WordPress store owners must ensure Accept and Reject options are equally prominent, document data processing activities under Article 30, and consider server-side tracking architecture that centralises data processing as a first-party controller. The EU AI Act deadline of August 2, 2026 adds new obligations around data provenance that favour documented first-party collection.