--------------------------- Title: Online pharmacies collecting sensitive data without user consent URL: https://usercentrics.com/us/press/pharma-data-compliance-report/ --------------------------- # Online pharmacies collecting sensitive data without user consent **Analysis by Usercentrics shows: 89% of the most popular online pharmacies in the EU do not meet GDPR requirements**Every day, pharmacy webshops process personal data of their visitors and customers, while selling privacy-sensitive products such as antidepressants, diabetes medicines and products related to reproductive health, heart disease or addiction treatments. Usercentrics scanned the 150 most-used pharmacy web stores in the European Union, analyzing the extent to which website operators are complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). **The results were staggering:**- **89%** of the most popular online pharmacies do not meet GDPR requirements with regard to obtaining end-user consent before processing personal data through the use of cookies. - **55%** of all non-necessary cookies were activated and in use on the website’s landing page without any user consent. - **62%** of all cookies set without the user’s consent are third-party marketing cookies. With consumers increasingly demanding enhanced data privacy from the companies they do business with, these results are particularly worrying for a privacy-sensitive sector. Breaking consumer trust, risking damage to brand reputation and breaching core requirements of the GDPR, the pharma e-commerce market in Europe – poised to grow by almost 9.5 billion euros during 2020-2024 according to research from [Technavio](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201117006020/en/Pharma-E-commerce-Market-In-Europe-to-grow-by-10.69-bn-during-2020-2024-Industry-Analysis-Market-Trends-Market-Growth-Opportunities-and-) – paints a worrying picture of data privacy compliance failures. Tilman Harmeling, Entrepreneur in residence of Usercentrics states: “*Our deep scanning technology revealed major GDPR compliance failures across the privacy-sensitive online pharmacy industry, and highlights the damaging effects on customer relations. In the four years since the GDPR took effect, data privacy has evolved from an obscure legal requirement into a strong consumer demand and metric of brand reputation. Respecting end-user consent through transparent and compliant use of cookies and trackers, is therefore vital for any online business wishing to build consumer trust.*” The full report can be found [here](https://usercentrics.com/resources/pharma-ecommerce-gdpr-compliance/). **Press contact:**Camilla Beaven and Hannah Sinz **Agentur Frau Wenk**Tel.: +49 40 3290 4738 0 E-Mail: --- ## Footer ### Products - [Usercentrics Web CMP](https://usercentrics.com/us/website-consent-management/) - [Usercentrics App CMP](https://usercentrics.com/us/in-app-sdk/) - [Usercentrics CTV CMP](https://usercentrics.com/us/usercentrics-ctv-cmp/) - [Usercentrics Privacy Policy Generator](https://usercentrics.com/us/privacy-policy-generator/) - [Server-side Tagging Solution](https://usercentrics.com/us/server-side-tracking-solution/) - [Usercentrics Preference Manager](https://usercentrics.com/us/preference-management/) - [Audience Unlocker](https://usercentrics.com/us/audience-unlocker/) - [Integrations](https://usercentrics.com/us/integrations/) - [Web compliance scan](https://usercentrics.com/us/privacy-compliance-scanner/) - [App compliance scan](https://usercentrics.com/us/app-data-privacy-audit/) - [ROAS calculator](https://usercentrics.com/roas-calculator/) ### Solutions - [Data Privacy Regulatory Compliance](https://usercentrics.com/us/data-privacy-regulatory-compliance/) - [Marketing Performance Optimization](https://usercentrics.com/us/marketing-performance-optimization/) - [Migration](https://usercentrics.com/us/migration/) - [Media & Publishing](https://usercentrics.com/us/media-publishing/) - [Retail & Ecommerce](https://usercentrics.com/us/retail-ecommerce/) - [Banking, Finance & Insurance](https://usercentrics.com/us/banking-finance-insurance/) - [Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals](https://usercentrics.com/us/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/) - [Gaming](https://usercentrics.com/us/gaming/) - [Education](https://usercentrics.com/us/education/) - [Automotive](https://usercentrics.com/us/automotive/) - [Travel & Hospitality](https://usercentrics.com/us/travel/) ### Regulations - [CCPA (California)](https://usercentrics.com/us/ccpa/) - [GDPR (EU)](https://usercentrics.com/us/gdpr/) - [CPRA (California)](https://usercentrics.com/us/cpra) - [CPA (Colorado)](https://usercentrics.com/us/cpa/) - [DMA (EU)](https://usercentrics.com/us/digital-markets-act-dma/) - [FADP (Switzerland)](https://usercentrics.com/us/fadp/) - [PIPEDA (Canada)](https://usercentrics.com/us/pipeda/) - [TCF v2.3 (IAB)](https://usercentrics.com/us/cmp-for-publishers/) - [Google Consent Mode (EU)](https://usercentrics.com/us/usercentrics-cmp-and-google-consent-mode-v2/) - [Microsoft UET Consent Mode (EU)](https://usercentrics.com/us/usercentrics-cmp-and-microsoft-consent-mode/) - [View all regulations](https://usercentrics.com/us/regulations-and-frameworks/) ### Resources - [Blog](https://usercentrics.com/us/knowledge-hub/) - [Whitepapers](https://usercentrics.com/us/whitepapers/) - [Checklists](https://usercentrics.com/us/checklists/) - [Courses](https://courses.usercentrics.com) - [Case studies](https://usercentrics.com/us/case-studies/) - [Privacy-Led Marketing](https://usercentrics.com/us/privacy-led-marketing/) - [Events](https://usercentrics.com/us/webinar/) - [CONSENTED podcast](https://usercentrics.com/us/consented/) - [Guides](https://usercentrics.com/us/guides/) - [Release notes](https://releases.usercentrics.com/en) - [Developer documentation](https://usercentrics.com/docs/) - [RFI template](https://usercentrics.com/us/resources/usercentrics-rfi-template/) - [Customer directory](https://usercentrics.com/us/usercentrics-customer-directory/) ### Company - [About us](https://usercentrics.com/us/about-us/) - [Press](https://usercentrics.com/us/press/) - [Our offices](https://usercentrics.com/us/contact/) - [Trust center](https://trust.usercentrics.com/) - [Careers](https://usercentrics.com/us/career/) - [Open positions](https://apply.workable.com/usercentrics/) - [Diversity and inclusion](https://usercentrics.com/us/dei/) ### Support - [General support](https://support.usercentrics.com/hc/en-us) - [Contact sales](https://usercentrics.com/us/book-a-consultation/) - [Technical support](https://support.usercentrics.com/hc/en-us/requests/new) - [Billing and account](https://support.usercentrics.com/hc/en-us/categories/12253804608156-Account-and-billing) - [Suggest a feature](https://support.usercentrics.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=10610312381340) - [Partner login](https://partnerportal.usercentrics.com/) - [Partner program](https://usercentrics.com/us/partner-program-overview/) - [Affiliate program](https://usercentrics.com/us/affiliates/)