diff --git a/ooniapi/common/src/common/config.py b/ooniapi/common/src/common/config.py
index 7b5b18a51..fe2c70455 100644
--- a/ooniapi/common/src/common/config.py
+++ b/ooniapi/common/src/common/config.py
@@ -54,6 +54,11 @@ class Settings(BaseSettings):
         ""  # filename of json containing Tor bridges and DirAuth endpoints
     )
 
+    geoip_metadata_active: bool = Field(
+        default=False,
+        description="Activates extra metadata collection for geoip anomalies"
+    )
+
     # Used to store history of all manifests and retrieve next manifest to use
     anonc_manifest_bucket: str = Field(
         default="CHANGEME",
diff --git a/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/src/ooniprobe/routers/reports.py b/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/src/ooniprobe/routers/reports.py
index 6ce1b8510..e7ae297d4 100644
--- a/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/src/ooniprobe/routers/reports.py
+++ b/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/src/ooniprobe/routers/reports.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from ..common.metrics import timer
 from ..common.routers import BaseModel
 from ..common.utils import setnocacheresponse
-from ..common.dependencies import ClickhouseDep
+from ..common.dependencies import ClickhouseDep, Settings
 from ..dependencies import SettingsDep, ASNReaderDep, CCReaderDep, S3ClientDep
 from ..utils import (
     error,
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ async def receive_measurement(
                 asn=asn,
                 msmt_uid=msmt_uid,
                 data=data,
+                settings=settings
             )
         except Exception as e:
             log.error(f"Error checking for geoip anomalies: {e}")
@@ -228,12 +229,18 @@ def _check_and_register_geoip_anomaly(
     asn: str,
     msmt_uid: str,
     data: bytes,
+    settings: Settings
 ) -> None:
-    # check for geoip anomalies
+
     actual_cc, actual_asn = get_cc_asn(request, cc_reader, asn_reader)
     if actual_cc != cc or normalize_asn(actual_asn) != normalize_asn(asn):
+
         # expensive: parses measurement body and sends anomaly to clickhouse
-        platform, software_name, software_version = _parse_metadata(data)
+        if settings.geoip_metadata_active:
+            platform, software_name, software_version = _parse_metadata(data)
+        else:
+            platform, software_name, software_version = "", "", ""
+
         register_geoip_anomaly(
             cc,
             actual_cc,
diff --git a/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/tests/conftest.py b/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/tests/conftest.py
index d77e95fbb..f8b96a1da 100644
--- a/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/ooniapi/services/ooniprobe/tests/conftest.py
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ def test_settings(
         anonc_manifest_file="manifest.json",
         anonc_secret_key=secret_key,
         tor_targets="./tests/fixtures/data/tor-targets.json",
+        geoip_metadata_active=True
     )