Youtube videos are just as much a part of websites as long blog posts that present specialized solutions to any problems and explain them in detail. And it is only when video and text are combined that both formats become really good and really attract all website visitors.
The problem: With the introduction of the GDPR, you are held accountable as a website operator and are responsible for compliance with strict legal regulations. Since the GDPR came into force (May 2018), there have been significant tightenings (including the use of cookies and data exchange in the USA). It is quickly obvious that YouTube, as a service from the USA, causes a transfer of data overseas.
YouTube embeds in Webflow and the GDPR: Why is that a problem?
YouTube is a platform from the USA and therefore stores user and analytics data on servers, which are also largely located in the United States. However, the GDPR, i.e. the data protection agreement of the EU states, requires very strict rules with regard to the collection, transfer and storage of personal data. If data is transferred to a country outside the EU, it is necessary to check whether there is a level of data protection comparable to that of the EU in this country.
For exactly this reason, the so-called Privacy Shield Agreement between the EU and the USA was ratified in 2015, which defines the USA as a country with adequate data protection regulations. However, this agreement was overturned again in 2020 due to US secret services' access to data.
Long Story Short: Since the Privacy Shield Agreement was overturned, data transfer to the USA was therefore only permitted with the prior consent of a user. And this is exactly where you can explain why YouTube videos should only be loaded on a website with prior consent.
Why use an overlay solution for videos?
If you're completely honest, the solution without an overlay would be the one with the best user experience: Videos are loaded directly and website visitors can watch the video directly and without detours.
Since this is only possible to a limited extent, overlay solutions are recommended. Video embeds are blocked until a website visitor has given their consent to the exchange of data and only then loaded onto the website.
Most common cookie consent tools offer some type of overlay solution. The problem here: These are usually not customizable and look, to say the least, as if they were designed for the 2005 web.
Our solution: 100% Webflow native YouTube overlay and directly fully responsive in a 16:9 ratio
For this reason, it was clear to us that a solution was needed that was 100% configurable in Webflow Designer and could therefore be 100% individually adapted to the respective website. After all, it can't be that you put weeks of work into the design and pixel-perfect implementation in Webflow and the look of your site is then ruined by an automatically generated overlay with no styling options.
The VE Resources overlay comes directly with the following features:
- 100% responsiveness
- 100% customizable directly within Webflow
- Works for single but also for multiple videos across your entire website
- You can also pull texts, thumbnails, and video URLs directly from your CMS
Have a look at the live example directly in the Webflow Showcase here and clone it directly to your own Webflow account. 100% for free: https://easy-youtube-overlay-for-webflow.webflow.io/
Having problems implementing it? Feel free to contact us at resources@virtual-entity.com and we will help you to equip your YouTube video embeds with a suitable overlay in just a few days.
Update 07.2023: New data protection agreement and changes in data protection requirements
In July 2023, the EU adopted the new data protection agreement with the USA and thus (temporarily) declares the United States as a safe third country for data export. Many companies can therefore breathe a sigh of relief and use tools from the USA without hesitation. The problem: Austrian lawyer Max Schrems, who had also overturned the last agreement before the ECJ, is already announcing another lawsuit against the new agreement. We therefore recommend that you individually review your own website and the tools used with specialized lawyers at any time in order to be prepared for further changes in the future.
*We are not lawyers and only share information to the best of our knowledge and belief. Please carry out extensive research on legal topics and always consult a specialized lawyer if you have any questions.