Are the cookies "_ga" and "_GA_XXXXXXXX" stored by Webflow for GTM tracking purposes or do they track user behavior, potentially breaching GDPR regulations?

TL;DR

_ga and _GA_XXXXXXXX cookies are added by Google Analytics via GTM, not Webflow, and are used for tracking user behavior.
To comply with GDPR, use a cookie consent manager, configure GTM with Google Consent Mode, and implement it through Webflow's custom code settings.

The cookies _ga and _GA_XXXXXXXX are not stored by Webflow itself—they are set by Google Analytics when implemented, often through Google Tag Manager (GTM). These cookies are used for user behavior tracking and can have GDPR implications.

1. What These Cookies Are

_ga: Used by Google Analytics to distinguish users by assigning a unique client ID. It helps track user sessions and behavior over time on a website.
_GA_XXXXXXXX: This is a more granular identifier used by Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to persist session state and track user interactions within a specific property.

2. Origin of These Cookies in Webflow Sites

Webflow does not set these cookies by default.
These cookies are only set if you or a developer has added Google Analytics directly in Webflow Project Settings or embedded Google Tag Manager via custom code.
If GTM is added, and one of the tags is Google Analytics, GA will set these cookies.

Under GDPR, cookies like _ga and _GA_XXXXXXXX are considered non-essential (used for analytics and tracking), so:
You must obtain explicit user consent before they are set, especially for EU users.
Consent must be granular, informed, and freely given (e.g., via a compliant cookie consent banner).
Using GTM without configuring it to respect consent (via Consent Mode or a cookie management solution) may violate GDPR.

Use a GDPR-compliant cookie consent manager (like Cookiebot, Osano, or iubenda).
Configure GTM with Google Consent Mode to delay or block analytics tags until the proper consent is given.
Inside Webflow, implement GTM using the custom code section under Project Settings > Custom Code, ensuring the tags respect user consent settings.

Summary

The cookies _ga and _GA_XXXXXXXX are set by Google Analytics via GTM, not Webflow itself. They track user behavior for analytics and require explicit consent under GDPR. To comply, implement a proper cookie consent mechanism and configure GTM accordingly.

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