When implementing effective SEO strategies for clients, a frequent challenge is managing limited resources, especially in content creation and the technical capabilities needed to execute SEO recommendations.
This complexity increases when working with organizations operating across multiple territories and markets.
Each region may have its own set of regulations, language requirements, and market-specific needs, adding another layer of difficulty in executing consistent and compliant SEO strategies across different territories.
In these cases, strategies and routine activities often need to be adjusted to meet the specific laws and regulations of each location.
Non-compliance with these regulations might not directly impact your overall digital performance.
The organization could face significant consequences in the form of legal charges and potential fines.
Adjusting to these differences is essential for maintaining compliance and ensuring the successful implementation of SEO strategies.
Common Legislation
While understanding legislation may not fall entirely within the scope of SEO, being aware of the limitations it imposes on activities and data collection is crucial.
Legal regulations can directly impact how data is gathered, used, and stored, influencing SEO strategies in significant ways.
Beyond the DMCA, other legal frameworks can also affect SEO efforts, depending on the region in which a business operates.
Compliance with data privacy laws – like GDPR in Europe or CCPA in California, for example – can shape how businesses handle user data, adjust targeting, and execute their SEO tactics across different jurisdictions.
Global Privacy Legislation
Privacy regulations have a significant impact on SEO, as they influence how businesses can collect, store, and use personal data.
When we talk about privacy legislation, the two that generally come to the top of mind are the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
Other privacy legislations that you may come into contact with when working with a global organization include:
Understanding these different privacy laws and how they affect data handling (and user tracking) is important, as data between regions may not be directly comparable because of these laws.
European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025
The EAA 2025 aims to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities across the EU by setting common requirements for certain products and services.
It aims to standardize practices, so that businesses comply with unified accessibility standards by June 28, 2025, promoting equal access to digital products and services.
This means that web design will need to adapt to meet specific accessibility standards, ensuring that websites are usable by individuals with disabilities.
This could include incorporating features like keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, alternative text for images, accessible forms, and adequate color contrast, allowing for a more inclusive online experience.
As companies work to adapt (and become compliant) to this legislation, third-party software may be introduced to websites to facilitate a number of (if not all) of the requirements.
This means adding scripts and potentially altering how a page loads and renders for both users (and search engines).
Geo-Blocking Regulation (EU) 2018/302
The Geo-Blocking Regulation (EU) 2018/302 is a European Union regulation aimed at preventing unjustified geographical discrimination of customers within the EU’s single market.
It came into effect in December 2018.
The regulation specifically targets practices that aim to block or redirect users trying to purchase goods, or services, online from a website “based” in a different EU member state.
A key feature of this is geo-blocking. The regulation aims to prevent geo-based redirects, such as automatically redirecting users to a different section of the website (such as a localized subfolder) based on IP.
During the Covid pandemic, there were calls for regulation to adapt to the shifts in user behavior with online shopping.