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How SealMetrics Blocks Bot Traffic Without Handling IPs

SealMetrics is designed from the ground up to protect user privacy while delivering accurate analytics. A frequent question is: How does SealMetrics block bot traffic without using IP addresses?
Here’s how we do it—fully compliant, fully anonymous.

Why SealMetrics Does Not Use IP Addresses​

IP addresses are legally considered personal data under GDPR, ePrivacy, and rulings from authorities such as:

  • CNIL (France)
  • AEPD (Spain)
  • EDPS (EU)

Even if an IP address is:

  • truncated,
  • hashed,
  • used briefly for filtering,
  • or never stored,

processing it still counts as handling personal data.

Because SealMetrics is a consentless analytics platform, we cannot process IPs without breaking that model.

Using IPs would require:​

  • A lawful basis for processing
  • Explicit user consent
  • Additional legal and security obligations

That’s why SealMetrics does not process, store, or use IP addresses at all — not even for bot filtering.

This is intentional and central to our privacy-by-design architecture.

How SealMetrics Filters Bot Traffic Without IPs​

Instead of relying on IP filtering, we use a privacy-safe, fully anonymous system based on User Agents.

What is a User Agent?​

A user agent is a text string that browsers (and bots) send automatically, describing:

  • browser type
  • device
  • OS
  • automation flags (in many cases)

Bots typically identify themselves clearly through their user agents.

Method 1 — Automatic Bot Detection via User Agent Lists​

SealMetrics maintains an updated list of known bot user agents, such as:

  • search engine crawlers
  • uptime monitors
  • headless browsers
  • known automation tools

When a hit arrives:

✔ We check the user agent
✔ If it matches a bot signature
→ We discard it immediately
❌ No IP needed
❌ No personal data processed

This keeps analytics clean without compromising compliance.

Method 2 — Behavioral Bot Filtering (No IP Required)​

SealMetrics also detects suspicious automated behavior patterns, such as:

  • too many hits in a short time,
  • non-human navigation patterns,
  • abnormal request timing.

This allows us to block automated traffic without relying on IP addresses.

All filtering occurs without identifying or tracking individuals.

Why This Approach Is Fully Privacy-Compliant​

Using user agents for bot filtering is permitted because:

  • User agents are not personal data (when not stored raw).
  • SealMetrics does not store user agent strings.
  • No tracking identifiers are used.
  • No correlation between hits is possible.
  • No user or device profiling is performed.

This means we can filter bot traffic without consent and without violating GDPR or ePrivacy rules.

Benefits of This Approach​

✔ 100% GDPR, ePrivacy, CCPA, and PECR compliant​

No IPs → No personal data → No consent required.

✔ Accurate analytics​

Bot traffic is filtered out automatically while keeping user data anonymous.

✔ No risk of re-identification​

The system cannot reconstruct sessions, journeys, or identities.

✔ Privacy-by-design​

Filtering is done in a way that respects the strictest privacy standards.

Summary​

SealMetrics filters bot traffic without ever touching IP addresses, thanks to:

  • Updated bot user agent lists
  • Behavioral pattern detection
  • Fully anonymous processing
  • No personal data collection

This ensures:

  • Clean analytics
  • Full privacy compliance
  • Zero consent requirements
  • Zero exposure to personal data risk

SealMetrics remains a truly privacy-first, consentless analytics platform—without sacrificing accuracy.