AI Privacy and GDPR Mode
AI Privacy is the master off-switch that decides whether xSpeed Cache’s AI-powered features may collect any data from your visitors. It ships in xSpeed Cache Free so the control is always there, even before you install Pro.
What this does
xSpeed Cache Pro has features that learn from how people use your site, such as recording which pages visitors move between or measuring page performance. AI Privacy governs whether those features are allowed to record anything.
It does this through a single decision: may we collect data for this visitor right now? Every Pro AI feature asks this question before it records a data point. If the answer is no, nothing is recorded.
The setting lives in Free on purpose. Privacy is treated as a basic right, not a paid add-on, so the control is present and configured before any data collection can begin.
Why use it
If your visitors are covered by GDPR or similar consent rules, you cannot record their behavior until they agree. AI Privacy makes sure that requirement is respected. When consent is required, Pro AI features stay silent until a visitor accepts.
It also means a later upgrade to Pro behaves predictably. Whatever choice you make in Free is the choice Pro respects.
Requirements
AI Privacy is part of xSpeed Cache Free. No Pro license is needed to use it.
The features it governs (such as SmartPredict Navigation and Performance Health) require xSpeed Cache Pro. When Pro is not installed, the setting still works and saves your choice. It just has nothing consuming the decision yet.
How it works
The decision depends on the Require consent before AI data collection setting and a consent cookie named xspeed_ai_consent.
- When consent is required (the default), a visitor’s data is only recorded after they accept the consent banner. Accepting sets the
xspeed_ai_consentcookie, which tells xSpeed Cache it may collect. - If the cookie is missing, the visitor has not accepted (or has declined), and nothing is recorded.
- When consent is not required, AI features may collect from every visitor.
Note: The consent banner itself is set up separately. xSpeed Cache defines the cookie name (
xspeed_ai_consent) so that xSpeed Cache and any third-party consent banner agree on the same signal. xSpeed Cache does not set the cookie on its own.
Settings explained
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Require consent before AI data collection | When ON, AI features only record data after a visitor accepts the consent banner. When OFF, they collect from every visitor. | ON |
| Consent banner text | The message shown in the consent banner. | ”We collect anonymized navigation and performance data to make this site faster. Accept to help us optimize your experience.” |
Require consent before AI data collection. This is the main control. Leave it ON if any of your visitors are covered by GDPR-style consent rules. Turning it OFF is only legal in regions without those rules, because it lets AI features collect from every visitor whether or not they have agreed.
Consent banner text. This is the wording shown in the cookie consent banner. Keep it factual: state what you collect (page navigation, performance metrics) and why.
Best practices
- Leave Require consent before AI data collection ON unless you are certain your audience is not covered by consent rules.
- Keep the banner text honest and specific. Vague wording undermines valid consent.
- Decide your privacy setting before enabling Pro AI features, so collection starts on the right footing.
Troubleshooting
A Pro AI feature is not recording anything. If consent is required and the xspeed_ai_consent cookie is not being set, no data is recorded by design. Check that your consent banner sets the xspeed_ai_consent cookie when a visitor accepts.
I turned consent off but still see no data. The frontend tracker for SmartPredict still checks for the consent cookie before it fires. If you turn the requirement off server-side, also make sure your visitors have the cookie if you rely on the client-side tracker.
FAQ
Does this collect data by itself? No. AI Privacy does not collect anything. It only decides whether other features are allowed to.
What happens if I do not have Pro? The setting saves and works, but there is nothing consuming the decision yet. When you add Pro, your choice is already in place.
Where does the consent cookie come from? From whichever consent banner your site runs. xSpeed Cache only defines the agreed cookie name, xspeed_ai_consent.
Related
- SmartPredict Navigation
- Performance Health
- Real User Monitoring