Even though the data is anonymous, continuous exposure of such data could, in theory, be used to infer certain trends or patterns over time. Sophisticated data analysis techniques might be able to glean more information from these data points than one might initially imagine.
The principle of data minimisation in privacy law implies that we should only collect and display the data that is necessary. If these statistics are not essential for your users or the operation of my site, I should be given the option to not to be displayed the site data and statistics. In this case, you leave me (as site owner) with no option, as you’re forcing it.
I believe you’re even breaching,
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
You’re not allowing me (as the site owner) to execute Data minimisation which are stated in those regulations and acts (which applies to both personal and anonymised data).
While these statistics are often used to foster a sense of community and transparency in a forum, I have valid reasons to consider removing or limiting access to them.
I believe it’s in the best interest of my community’s privacy to remove the statistics. So, you need to allow the forum owners to control what is shared with public or not.
I wonder how many people, both users and owners, are impacted by your forceful enforcement of these policies. It’s high time you started seriously considering improvements to data protection and privacy.
Please take these as suggestions for improving Discourse policies, some of which currently exist in a gray area, while others appear to be out of line with privacy norms. I mean to make no personal impact; my sole aim is to enhance privacy and data protection for all users.