Transparency in Open Government Data Portals: An Assessment of Web Tracking Practices Across Europe

Online web analytics and web tracking, including the use of first-party and third-party cookies, are often perceived as a "black box". Both rely on the collection of large amounts of data for various purposes - functional, analytical, and marketing - often without the user's knowledge, for legitimate purposes such as improving the user experience, as well as more controversial reasons such as targeted advertising. This issue is reinforced by Google's dominant position in web analytics, particularly through the widespread integration of Google Analytics (GA) into first-party cookies. At the same time, Europe is witnessing a rise in open government initiatives, particularly in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which aim to increase data transparency and accessibility for individuals. These initiatives often use open government data (OGD) portals as a means to disseminate government information. Our study, therefore, examines such platforms across Europe to determine the prevalence of web tracking activity and Google's potential involvement. Our findings reveal a nuanced use of cookies within OGD portals, characterized by a significant presence of GA cookies. This situation raises debates about privacy (especially in relation to the presence of third-party cookies), transparency, and the possibility of transitioning to more ethically responsible analytics technologies in government digital services. We propose several practical recommendations for governments to improve their privacy efforts, including removing tracking practices, adopting open source analytics solutions, conducting regular audits, and improving public awareness of web tracking practices.