Privacy Policy

What Is A Privacy Policy?

Privacy policy is a legal agreement posted on a website that details the type of personal information the webmasters take from visitors, how they use the information, and how they protect the information.

Any company that collects personal data from website visitors is legally required to provide access to a privacy policy. The privacy policy must truthfully disclose why the information is needed and the steps they are taking to keep it safe.

A privacy policy protects businesses from any legal trouble associated with the use of their customers’ names, email addresses, mailing addresses, credit card info, phone numbers, and more as long as the published policy is not breached. For instance, if a privacy policy states that a company will not sell consumer information to a third party but then sells their email subscription list to another company, then they will be prosecuted for violating the agreement made with their users.

Why Should You Have A Privacy Policy?

Collecting consumer data allows a business to improve their user experience, analyze their interactions with their audience, and increase customer engagement with the brand. Without a privacy policy in place, collecting this information would be illegal, and the business could be held responsible in a court of law.

Each country has its own set of privacy laws, and the easiest way to satisfy the requirements for any consumer in the world is to have an accessible, detailed privacy policy. Most companies include the link to their privacy policy in their website’s footer, so it appears on every page. Or, when the cookie banner pops up, customers have the opportunity to view the company’s privacy statement.

What You Should Include In A Privacy Policy

The more detailed a privacy policy is, the less likely it is to be held responsible for any accidents. Privacy policies typically include:

• Defining the various types of information the website may collect:

1. Names
2. Dates of birth
3. Email addresses
4. Billing and shipping addresses
5. Phone numbers
6. Bank information
7. Card information
8. Social security numbers

• The reason for collecting each type of information
• How the information is stored, secured, and accessed
• Details about transferring the data
• Disclosing any third parties or affiliated websites or organizations with access to the information
• The use of cookies
• The option to deny specific uses or information (optional)