> How many sites have Google Analytics or something similar? I would argue that analytics are as essential to the operation of an online business as shopping carts.
I think you are overstating the case for Google Analytics in particular, as well as blurring the value of other non-intrusive methods.
Remember, this only affects UK companies dealing with UK visitors (or perhaps EU companies dealing with EU visitors). You still have complete control to stomp over all privacy concerns of US and other non UK (or non-EU) visitors. So you are not completely losing the value of Google Analytics, you just need an informed consent of a subset of your audience.
There is no completely accurate way to identify that subset other than asking every visitor for what country they reside in. To avoid ever violating this law, you would have to implement the changes for all visitors.
I think you are overstating the case for Google Analytics in particular, as well as blurring the value of other non-intrusive methods.
Remember, this only affects UK companies dealing with UK visitors (or perhaps EU companies dealing with EU visitors). You still have complete control to stomp over all privacy concerns of US and other non UK (or non-EU) visitors. So you are not completely losing the value of Google Analytics, you just need an informed consent of a subset of your audience.