# Problematic IP address fields

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/problematic-ip-address-fields/83785>\
**Category:** Feature\
**Tags:** gdpr, privacy\
**Created:** [25.Март.2018 07:06:34 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/problematic-ip-address-fields/83785 "2018-03-25T07:06:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 4

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**Author:** ![RGJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/rgj/32/523185_2.png) [@RGJ](https://meta.discourse.org/u/RGJ)\
**Post date:** [25.Март.2018 08:54:25 UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/problematic-ip-address-fields/83785/4 "2018-03-25T08:54:25Z")

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> [@codinghorror](#):
>
> preventing normal/typical use of Discourse

Although it’s not ‘broken’, this is something that will be preventing normal use of Discourse, since storing IP addresses without consent or a good reason is going to be illegal in a significant part of the world really soon.

Just for my understanding, how is storing the IP address relevant for incoming links and searches?

I do understand the outgoing links case, (although using a cookie would be a cleaner solution).

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