2018 gains momentum and brings unexpected innovations. The first one is the GDPR regulations introduction, and the second one is Google Maps API pricing update. Both announcements have shocked web developers all around the globe, ‘cause these brought a new portion of a headache for all webmasters and business owners.
Let’s check out some details.
GDPR
This year seems to be full of controversial discussions.
The first “surprise” for developers was the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Starting from May 25, 2018, the main update to the European Union data protection rules has come into operation. Besides, the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission decided to strengthen the data protection. Thus, it addresses all individuals within the EU by signing the GDPR.
For a website, it means transparency and communication with users. It regulates the usage of cookies and online tracking of visitors from the EU. Certainly, it’s a positive change for people, ‘cause GDPR protects their privacy rights regardless of where their data is collected.
Under this law, any client has a right to:
- be informed of the ways their data is collected, and it should be transparent.
- request data any time he/she needs.
- correct inaccurate data.
- request deletion of data.
- object to using their personal data.
In case your website is powered by WordPress you can easily make it GDPR compliant using any of these free GDPR plugins, these, for example, will save you some time and nerves.
Everything seems to be fine and right, however, this set of laws results in tremendous changes that each site owner should undertake. And, certainly, it will take enough time and money to perform them. Let’s see the necessary website changes according to this law.
Under GDPR a site owner should:
- Learn about data protection by design practices and decide on how to implement these principles on your website.
- Demonstrate implementing data protection by design and by default. This can definitely change everything from how a developer designs databases to who gets access to data.
- Write cookie policy in a plain language, make it transparent. It will give the users a clear picture of how cookies are used on your site.
- Analyze your company’s current use of data. Where it comes from, how it is used.
- Create a plan for how to delete personal data, update, provide it in a certain format upon request.
- Request and record consent every time you collect and use personal data.
- Get permission when you organize marketing campaigns. Above all, you need a client’s consent to send him any type of advertisement. You may implement it as a disclaimer next to the «subscribe» button. Consequently, it will inform about the subscription to marketing campaigns when a user hit subscribe it.
ThemeREX team, in fact, got ready for these global changes so that our customers have all the needed options for GDPR compliance. Obviously, we are integrating GDPR Framework plugin into the theme packages. The plug-in offers a friendly installation wizard to get you started quickly. The core features of the plugin include namely manual and automatic data download, export, anonymization and deletion, tracking and withdrawal of consent, privacy policy generator, etc.
GDPR Framework plugin is fully compatible with Contact Form 7 plugin we include to set up contact forms in admin without digging into code. Users can add acceptance fields to contact forms with a few clicks of a mouse.
Google Maps API
Another hot news item is the revamping of Google Maps developers platform.
As Google announces, “Starting July 16, 2018, a new pay-as-you-go pricing plan will go into effect for Maps, Routes, and Places”.
It means that developers have to pay for access to their APIs, and they will have a valid API key and a Google Cloud Platform billing account.
The points you should know:
- Google offers 18 individual maps APIs and 3 core segments such as Maps, Routes, Places. What’s good is that their existing code will continue to work without any changes.
- A single pricing plan. For today, there are 2 types of plan, in particular, Standard and Premium which includes access to customer support. Everything will change with the forthcoming single plan, which provides developers with $200 worth of free monthly usage. No comparison charts of old and new plans are provided, but as it is reported by developers, the new prices are raised by more than 1000%.
- Monthly $200 free credit. It can be used for Maps, Routes, and Places. Of course, it’s ok for those site owners who embed a simple map on their web presence. Yet, if you deal with Dynamic Maps, this sum will take cover around 28 000 free page loads per month. This is the main point of the developer’s headache, ‘cause currently, users show 25,000 free page loads per day.
- A billing account to start using the APIs. At first, give your credit card information to Google, and then you’re welcome. This rule is a must-have for all, even those site owners, whose sites go with a simple contact map.
- Free customer support for all clients. It’s a “sugar high” for all who have gone insane because of this innovation.
- Valid API keys for all projects. The keyless access is no longer be supported, starting from June 11. If you wonder what will happen to keyless calls to the Maps JavaScript API or Street View API, they will offer you low-resolution maps with “for development purposes only” watermark.
- Bonus for Android app developers. They will not be changed for Mobile Native Static Maps and Mobile Native Dynamic Maps.
- Maps-centric solutions. As Google says, it plans to launch a variety of industry-specific programs like ridesharing and asset tracking. The latter allows to locate vehicles and assets in real-time, visualiz? their travels, and rout vehicles with complex trips. It’s a good push for improving businesses efficiencies.
Maps service seems to become the next billion-dollar business for Google, but the changes are too unexpected.
You can just imagine the reaction of the developer community to these Google innovations. Not only most see them as excessively rigorous, but also for small businesses. The Internet is full of not positive feedbacks from developers who are disappointed by this sudden price rise. Today it’s too early to draw conclusions, but it can happen that several open-source alternatives to maps will be developed soon.
By the way, there is already one free alternative to Google Maps that you can consider, OpenStreetMap. It is, for instance, a huge community-driven mapping project, fast and free, with a bunch of JavaScript libraries to offer customized experiences.
ThemeRex customers should not worry about these Google map privacy changes. Even if you are not willing to enable billing for displaying custom Google maps, we have a great alternative for you. Namely, Google Maps element of WPBakery Visual Page Builder which outputs a map as an iframe. The map will be showing on the site without paying each month.
Meet the list of GDPR Compliant themes from our accounts, which is constantly getting bigger:
As you see, making your site GDPR compliant is important and at the same time energy-intensive. Surely, creating or redesigning your site with under its rules means keeping in mind: transparency, consent, and security. Of course, it will take you some time to accommodate these rules, but will positively bring you loyal and happy customers.
LeGrand | A Modern Multi-Purpose Business WordPress Theme
WealthCo | A Business & Financial Consulting WordPress Theme
Jacqueline | Spa & Massage Salon WordPress Theme
Over to You
Certainly, new age always means new rules. So, it’s almost impossible to enter the future without any changes. Of course, sometimes it’s hard, but as experience shows, it’s often rewarding. As a result, Google API + GDPR are the main renovations that hit web design and developers community this year.
As can be seen, these essential points require close attention and thought-out implementation. Familiarise yourself with each of them, implement accurately on your web presence, and be sure that your online business keeps pace with the times.
