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Parsico is a web analytics service (parsico.org) that collects visitor behaviour data including page views, session information, referrers, and device details via a JavaScript tracker embedded on websites. It sets first-party analytics cookies to identify sessions and returning visitors. Under GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive, analytics cookies are non-essential and require prior user consent. Of particular concern for European website operators is the likely location of Parsico's servers: Iran has no EU adequacy decision, meaning any data transfer to Parsico constitutes a high-risk third-country transfer requiring Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent safeguards.
Parsico is a web analytics service operated via parsico.org that provides website owners with insights into visitor behaviour. Like most web analytics platforms, Parsico embeds a JavaScript tracker on the host website that collects data on each page load: page URL, referrer source, browser and device type, operating system, screen resolution, and session duration. The collected data allows website operators to understand traffic volumes, popular content, user journeys, and source channels. Parsico is a smaller, less widely documented analytics provider compared to alternatives such as Google Analytics or Matomo.
The Parsico tracker collects personal data including the visitor's IP address (used to derive approximate geolocation), User-Agent string (browser and device fingerprinting), page URLs visited, referrer URLs, timestamps, and session identifiers. A first-party analytics cookie is set on the visitor's browser to distinguish unique visitors from returning ones and to link page views within a session. This cookie constitutes personal data processing under GDPR since the session identifier, combined with other collected data, can identify an individual.
Analytics cookies that identify individual users or sessions are not strictly necessary for the website to function and therefore require prior, informed, and freely given consent under the ePrivacy Directive (Article 5(3)) and GDPR (Article 6(1)(a)). Websites must block the Parsico tracking script until the visitor has actively consented via a compliant cookie consent mechanism. Consent must be granular (analytics separately from marketing), documented, and revocable. Legitimate interest is generally not accepted as a basis for analytics cookies that set persistent identifiers, based on consistent DPA guidance across the EU.
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Parsico (parsico.org) appears to be operated from Iran or by an Iranian-origin company. Iran is not on the European Commission's list of countries with an adequacy decision under GDPR Article 45. This means any transfer of personal data to Parsico's servers is a transfer to a third country without adequate protection, which is prohibited unless specific safeguards under Article 46 are in place (typically Standard Contractual Clauses). Website operators should verify Parsico's actual server location and data processing terms before deployment and assess whether SCCs can realistically be implemented with this provider.
To use Parsico compliantly: (1) gate the Parsico script behind consent in your CMP, categorised under Analytics; (2) contact Parsico to obtain a Data Processing Agreement and confirm server location; (3) if servers are outside the EU/EEA without an adequacy decision, establish Standard Contractual Clauses and conduct a Transfer Impact Assessment; (4) disclose the transfer to Parsico in your privacy policy including the destination country and safeguard; (5) list all Parsico cookies in your cookie policy with names, durations, and purposes; (6) if adequate transfer safeguards cannot be established, consider switching to an EU-hosted analytics alternative (Matomo self-hosted, Fathom EU, Plausible).
Websites using Parsico Analytics must obtain user consent under GDPR regulations.
DPIA considerations
A DPIA should be considered if Parsico servers are located in Iran or another country without an EU adequacy decision, as this constitutes a high-risk third-country transfer of personal browsing data (IP addresses, session identifiers). Assess: actual server location (verify via Parsico DPA/privacy policy); whether a DPA can be concluded; whether SCCs or other Article 46 safeguards are feasible; and whether the transfer risk is proportionate to the analytics benefit. If adequate safeguards cannot be put in place, consider switching to an EU-hosted alternative.
Sample consent text
We use Parsico Analytics to understand how visitors use our website. This service sets analytics cookies on your device and sends data about your browsing session (including page views, referrer, browser type and IP address) to Parsico's servers. Your consent is required before these cookies are set. You can withdraw or change your consent at any time via our cookie settings. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy.
Third-party domains contacted
parsico.orgcheck.parsico.orgCookies placed
| Name | Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| _parsico_session | analytics | 30 minutes to 2 years (implementation-dependent) | First-party analytics cookie set by the Parsico tracker to assign a unique session or visitor identifier. Used to count unique visits, connect page views within a session, and identify returning visitors for web analytics reporting. Not used for advertising or cross-site tracking. |
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Parsico Analytics sets first-party analytics cookies on the visitor's browser. These cookies typically contain a session or visitor identifier used to count unique sessions, attribute page views to a session, and identify returning visitors. The exact cookie names may vary by implementation. These cookies are analytics cookies and are not strictly necessary for the website to function.
Yes. Parsico Analytics sets persistent cookies that identify individual visitor sessions. These are non-essential analytics cookies and require prior, explicit user consent under the ePrivacy Directive (Article 5(3)) and GDPR (Article 6(1)(a)) before the script is loaded or any cookie is set. The Parsico script must be blocked by your consent management platform until consent is given.
The required legal basis is consent (GDPR Article 6(1)(a); ePrivacy Directive Article 5(3)). Analytics cookies that persist a visitor identifier are not strictly necessary and cannot rely on legitimate interest under the ePrivacy Directive. Only genuinely anonymised, aggregate, and non-persistent analytics (setting no cookies or persistent identifiers) may qualify for legitimate interest, and even then this is contested by several EU Data Protection Authorities.
Parsico (parsico.org) appears to be operated by an Iranian-origin company. Iran has no EU adequacy decision, meaning any transfer of personal data to Parsico servers is a third-country transfer without adequate protection under GDPR Chapter V. Before using Parsico, verify the actual server location via their privacy policy and data processing agreement. If servers are in Iran or another non-adequate country, SCCs or other Article 46 safeguards must be in place, or the service should not be used by EU-facing websites.
A DPIA should be seriously considered if Parsico processes data on servers located in Iran or another country without an EU adequacy decision. The combination of analytics profiling and a high-risk third-country transfer of IP addresses and browsing data elevates the risk profile significantly. Document the transfer risk, the safeguards in place (or their absence), and the decision-making process. If adequate safeguards cannot be established, switch to a GDPR-compliant EU-hosted alternative.
To implement Parsico compliantly: (1) block the Parsico script until analytics consent is granted via your CMP; (2) contact Parsico to obtain a signed Data Processing Agreement confirming server location and transfer safeguards; (3) if servers are outside the EU/EEA, execute Standard Contractual Clauses and conduct a Transfer Impact Assessment; (4) disclose Parsico in your privacy policy with the data recipient, data transferred, server location, and safeguard applied; (5) list Parsico cookies in your cookie policy; (6) re-evaluate annually whether Parsico remains a compliant choice.
EU-based or self-hosted privacy-friendly alternatives include: Matomo (open-source, can be self-hosted in the EU), Plausible Analytics (EU-hosted, cookieless option available), Fathom Analytics (EU servers option), Simple Analytics (Netherlands-based), and Pirsch Analytics (Germany-based). These alternatives offer GDPR-compliant configurations, some without cookies at all, eliminating both the ePrivacy consent requirement and third-country transfer concerns.
Add an entry to the Analytics section of your cookie policy: name the service as Parsico Analytics (parsico.org), list the cookie names set (obtain from Parsico documentation or browser inspection), specify duration and purpose (session/visitor identification for web analytics), state the legal basis (consent), and disclose the data transfer to Parsico's servers including the destination country. Include a link to Parsico's own privacy policy and the applicable transfer safeguard document if relevant.