Developer Guide
How to make a Next.js app GDPR compliant
Next.js apps render fast and ship analytics easily — which means it's just as easy to leak data or load trackers before consent.
Gate analytics behind consent
Don't load Google Analytics/Vercel Analytics in the root layout unconditionally. Load them only after the user accepts a consent banner stored in a cookie or localStorage.
Add security headers
Set Content-Security-Policy, HSTS, X-Frame-Options, and X-Content-Type-Options in next.config.js `headers()` or middleware.
Build data export & deletion
Expose API routes for the user to download their data (Art. 20) and delete their account (Art. 17), cascading to all related records.
Keep secrets server-side
Never expose API keys via NEXT_PUBLIC_*; keep service keys in server-only env vars and route sensitive calls through API routes.
FAQs
Where do I add security headers in Next.js?
Use the `headers()` function in next.config.js, or set them in middleware.ts for dynamic control.
Is Vercel Analytics GDPR-friendly?
It's cookieless by default, but you should still disclose it and confirm your configuration before relying on that.