Google Fonts warning received?
Have you also received a warning because Google Fonts are not integrated into your WordPress website in a DSGVO-compliant manner? Then simply contact me without obligation using the contact form or simply give me a call. I will be happy to help you, check the "facts" and, if necessary, remedy the situation by integrating your Google Fonts into your website in a way that is safe from warnings.
What are Google Fonts?
Launched in 2010, Google Fonts are now the most popular web fonts provider. The search engine giant now offers over 1,400 fonts. The fonts come from various designers and are so-called open source fonts, i.e. free to use.
Google hosts the fonts themselves and they can be loaded from there with just one line of code.
They can be used commercially free of charge, which means they can be used freely on any website. This has led to over 62 trillion (!) page views using Google Fonts - an incredible number (and probably significantly more by now).
Warning because of Google Fonts - the backgrounds
The background to this is the ruling of the Munich Regional Court of 20.01.2022 (Case No. 3 O 17493/20). The court found that the dynamic integration of Google Fonts and the associated transfer of personal data to the USA can be a data protection violation if no prior consent is obtained from the site visitor. In the case, the website operator was ordered to cease and desist, provide information and pay 100 euros in damages. This ruling is now being used by private individuals and increasingly by lawyers as an opportunity to send claims for damages to website operators who dynamically integrate Google Fonts via Google servers and do not obtain consent for this.
In plain language: Google Fonts must be integrated on your website in such a way that they are not dynamically loaded from Google servers, but can be retrieved locally from your website's server.
How do I know if I am using Google Fonts on my website?
Nowadays, websites are often put together in a modular system. Here, many tools are already built in beforehand. This can mean that you, as the website owner, are not even aware that you are using Google tools. In the case of Google Fonts, there are two ways to check this:
Possibility #1: Check in source code
Open the source code (or source text) of the page in a browser of choice (right click - "Show page source code" or the key combination "ctrl + U"). If the lines "fonts.googleapis.com" or "fonts.gstatic.com" appear under "Sources" (or "Sources"), fonts are loaded from Google servers.
Possibility #2: Check by "Fonts Checker
You can also run the respective URL online through an automated "Fonts Checker" system, e.g. on https://sicher3.de/google-fonts-checker or https://www.e-recht24.de/google-fonts-scanner.
What do I do if I have dynamically integrated Google Fonts?
It is also possible to download Google Fonts and then load them from your own server onto the website. This way, communication with the Google server no longer takes place. The integration is sometimes a bit complex, but it is possible without "destroying" the website itself. A step-by-step tutorial on hosting Google Fonts can be found at here.
Effects on other Google Plugins - Google Maps and Google reCaptcha
The Google Maps Plugin reloads Google Fonts. Accordingly, this is a critical data transfer. An interactive map, on the other hand, can be integrated without Google Maps. OpenStreetMap is available for this purpose. It is often sufficient to use a static map image that displays an optimised image of the surroundings. This map of the surroundings often appears to be even more advantageous than a general Google map, on which competing businesses to one's own business are often visible.
If the aim is to make it easier for the user to get there, a button labelled "Plan journey" or "Route planner" will help. Besides Google Maps, there are several other suitable route planners that can be linked in this way. Graphhopper is just one of many examples.
Google reCAPTCHA is another plugin that loads Google Fonts. One variant of the plugin serves to protect forms from spam by preventing malicious robot programmes from filling out the form. However, this so-called form spam can also be contained by invisible fields (often called honeypots). Simple arithmetic problems written out in text form fend off bots quite effectively ("How much is three times two? Please write out the result as a word").
Conclusion
If you have received a letter from a law firm in the last few weeks, you should definitely not panic. According to several sources, the chances are very good that the Google Fonts story is a pipe burst.
Nevertheless, you should always keep an eye on your website. Check whether and which cookies you are currently using. Have your privacy policy checked by an expert to avoid unnecessary costs due to warnings. Larger companies should urgently work with a data protection officer on a long-term basis, as laws change quickly or rules are adapted. As a website operator, you often do not notice this at all.
Maintenance & Support
If you run your website on the basis of WordPress, you should also maintain it at regular intervals. This contributes to both better protection and an increase in functionality. I will gladly take over the technical/administrative support of your WordPress installation and keep your website up to date with the available updates for WordPress, plugins and themes.
- In case you don't want regular updates and backups, I will secure and update your WordPress website including all plugins.
once. - If the last update was made some time ago (usually more than 12 months), this offer may have to be calculated individually.
- I explicitly point out that only regular updates and backups make a WordPress website more secure.
- For monthly WordPress maintenance.
- Monthly update of WordPress and all installed plugins.
- Regular security backups
- Malware scans and spam checking
- Including the installation of comprehensive security software and backup solutions to ensure your WordPress website is as secure as possible.
- Minimum term 6 months
Monthly/semi-annual payment possible - can be cancelled at any time
- I subject your website to a basic and comprehensive performance check and identify the weak points that reduce your success.
- On-page analysis for search engine optimization
- Source code analysis
- Review of digital content for web optimization
- How user-friendly is your website?
- Is the performance of the website right?
Contact form
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Are you looking for a web designer? Sowiesodesign Fürth is a specialist for web design, graphic design and SEO. Regionally, I serve clients in the cities and counties of Fürth, Forchheim, Schwabach, Nuremberg, Bayreuth and Erlangen. The initial consultation in these regions is free of charge and without obligation.
