Building GDPR-Compliant, Privacy-First Websites with Flipsite: Total Data Sovereignty

Why Data Sovereignty Matters

The word freedom is associated with the US, but right now the talk outside of the US is about breaking free or US technologies. It's no more about only GDPR, but going beyond GDPR. In this article we will explore what that means for your website. Even if you're using services that claim to be GDPR-compliant and host data in the EU, US-based companies (like Google or Amazon) can still be compelled under the US CLOUD Act to provide access to that data. This creates a legal gray area, where your website might be vulnerable to unauthorized data access, despite your best intentions.

Flipsite offers a solution: a website-building platform that ensures 100% control over your data, with hosting options that guarantee data remains within the borders you choose—whether that's the EU, US, or elsewhere.

How Do I Check If My Website Is GDPR Compliant?

Ensuring your website complies with GDPR involves several key steps:

1. Conduct a Data Audit:

• Identify all personal data collected (IP addresses, cookies, contact forms, etc.).
• Understand how this data is stored, processed, and shared.
• Create a privacy policy documenting the data and where you store it. Or let Flipsite do it for you.

2. Review Third-Party Services:

• Are you using tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel? These often transfer data to the US, raising compliance concerns.
• Replace with EU-hosted alternatives like Plausible Analytics.

3. Implement Proper Consent Mechanisms:

• Use GDPR-compliant cookie banners that allow users to opt-in before data tracking.
• Clearly explain how and why data is collected in a privacy statement, automatically generated by Flipsite.

4. Secure Data Storage:

• Host your website on servers located within the EU or a jurisdiction that meets GDPR adequacy standards, such as Scaleway in France.
• Ensure data is encrypted both in transit and at rest (TLS/SSL always on your website)

With Flipsite, as it is a static website builder using no external JavaScript, except for tools like Plausible Analytics that you have added yourself, it makes building websites that are compliant and where you always know where your data is, problem free!

What Happens If a Website Is Not GDPR Compliant?

Non-compliance with GDPR can lead to:

• Hefty Fines: Up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover, whichever is higher.
• Legal Action: From data protection authorities or users whose data rights were violated.
• Reputational Damage: Users increasingly value privacy. A data breach or violation can erode trust and harm your brand.

Flipsite mitigates these risks by ensuring GDPR compliance at every step of your website's lifecycle.

How Do I Build a Website That Doesn't Rely on US Technology?

Taking it one step further than just GDPR compliance, is ensuring no US based technology is used. This is particularly hard in normal cases where e.g. your Wordpress site is hosted on a German service-provider but they use AWS under the hood on the admin side, exposing your entire site to the US through the CLOUD Act or in the case of Trump / Musk in many people's concerns; even without the Cloud act by not following the rule of law.

1. Choose Non-US Platforms:

• Use Flipsite, which is based in the EU and provides tools that avoid US-based dependencies.

2. Opt for Open source solutions:

• Flipsite is built on open source and the compiler is 100% free and available on Github.

3. Avoid US-Based CDNs and APIs:

• Utilize EU-based CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) and ensure third-party APIs comply with GDPR.
• With Flipsite you can hook in your own CDN

4. Prioritize End-to-End Encryption:

• Encrypt all user data to ensure that even if intercepted, it remains unreadable.

How Do I Host a Website with Only EU Technology on EU Soil?

With Flipsite, hosting your website exclusively on EU soil is seamless:

1. EU-Based Hosting:

• Flipsite exports your site to static HTML, meaning that you can host everything wherever you want to. For some people it will mean the US and others the EU, but it's 100% up to you, choosing the jurisdiction and service provider you trust the most.

2. Integrated GDPR Tools:

• From cookie consent banners to data privacy policies and hosting, Flipsite includes everything needed to stay compliant.

Take Control of Your Website’s Privacy Today

With increasing scrutiny over data privacy, building a website that ensures GDPR compliance, data sovereignty, and security isn't just a best practice—it's a necessity.

Flipsite empowers you to create stunning websites without compromising on privacy or control. Whether you're an individual blogger, an eCommerce brand, or an enterprise, Flipsite makes it simple to build and host a website entirely on EU soil (or wherever soil you choose), free from unwanted jurisdictional overreach.

Ready to build your privacy-first, GDPR-compliant website?