• Resolved Dave Loodts

    (@davelo)


    Hi, a question about the plugin “WooCommerce Analytics” and my privacy concerns.

    I couldn’t test it locally, as -apparently- the plugin requires to have full acces to data. This includes all of store’s orders, customers, products, categories, variations, and coupons. Installing this is a serious breach of privacy for EU-store (see: https://woocommerce.com/woocommerce-analytics-data-syncing/)

    So, a few questions and remarks:

    • Where is that data stored? EU-servers? VS-servers?
    • Why is this synch needed for the functionality of this plugin? It is in fact a beta-plugin, needed for feedback of new features. Why forcing sharing data?
    • WooCommerce promotes “owning your own data”, behaviour like this is against your own vision. And it’s probably not needed for functionality. Can you explain me, why this won’t be against ‘forecefully” owning your data?
    • The text says “customers” data, but no details. Please list up what kind of “customer” data is synced: als address, phone, e-mailadres?
    • The referral to Jetpack’s privacy text mentions that personal data (street, phone) is used for order labels. Obviously if that feature is being used. Question is: is that the case that only personal data is synched when using the Jetpack labels? Otherwise there is no reason to transfer these personal data, expecially not with this beta-plugin.
    • I was not aware of this privacy issue when i installed it on a few live sites. What happens with the data when i delete the plugin?
    • If the data stays after plugin deletion, where can i sent in a request to delete the data?

    I understand the need for data, absolutely. To make WooCommerce better.
    But privacy also means minimizing what you need to get insights. A streetnumber, phone, e-mailadres is not data that will improve the functionality of WooCommerce.
    And lastly: forcing it in this way (and promoting it) is quit uncommon in an open source spirit.

    I also want to explain to my customers what exactly is being synched and shared, without consent of their customers, the shop buyers. So, i want to have a better listing around that data, so the decission is then for my customers (merchants) to install this plugin or not.

    I’m looking forward to your answers.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
  • Plugin Support LovingBro (woo-hc)

    (@lovingbro)

    Hi @davelo,

    Thank you for your patience. We’re reviewing this carefully to make sure you receive an accurate and comprehensive response, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with more information.

    Gary Murray

    (@garymurray)

    Hi @davelo – apologies for the delay.

    Because Automattic’s Services are offered worldwide, your data may be stored outside the European Economic Area (EEA). When that’s the case, we will appropriate measures to ensure your personal information is adequately protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy as required by applicable law. These measures include entering into European Commission or UK government approved standard contractual arrangements with entities based in countries outside the EEA or the UK. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.

    WooCommerce Analytics is a cloud feature that needs a copy of relevant commerce data in order to deliver its reports. This means we need to sync relevant data, such as your store’s orders, customers, products, categories, variations, and coupons, in order to provide the WooCommerce Analytics functionality. However, using WooCommerce Analytics is optional. If you prefer to keep all data on your own infrastructure, you can absolutely do that by not using WooCommerce Analytics.

    Using WooCommerce Analytics does not currently give us access to your customers’ email addresses, phone numbers, or street addresses. The only customer data we are currently syncing is a customer ID (which, on its own, cannot identify a customer without the site’s local database), whether or not the customer is a returning customer, and customer spend totals.

    Shipping labels (if you use WooCommerce Shipping & Tax) require names, addresses, and phone numbers to generate labels with carriers — that’s separate from WooCommerce Analytics. If you’re not using labels, that particular transfer doesn’t apply.

    If you uninstall WooCommerce Analytics, new data won’t be synced and previously stored data is deleted after 30 days.

    Plugin Support Chris Moreira – a11n

    (@chrism245)

    Since we haven’t received any updates from you, I’ll mark this as resolved for now. If you need further assistance, you’re welcome to start a new thread.

    If you have a few minutes, we’d love if you could leave us a review: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/woocommerce-analytics/reviews/

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

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