You might be asking yourself: do I really need a privacy policy for my website? As we’re about to see, the answer is almost certainly yes.
In this article, we’ll go through the main 4 reasons why you need a privacy policy for your website or app!
But first, let’s quickly recap:
The privacy policy is a document in which the data owner (the person or entity that runs a website/app) outlines the methods and purposes of its data processing to users, i.e. individuals who visit or use the website/app.
These are the most basic elements that a privacy policy should include:
See our own policy here for an example of how these elements come together.
Yes. Email newsletters should contain a reference to your privacy policy. You must also show a link to your privacy policy when users subscribe to your newsletter in order to inform the user about your data use/collection practices.
Almost all businesses on the internet now require a privacy policy. Of course, if you don’t keep or sell any data, you can avoid it. However, even private bloggers must examine whether a privacy notice is necessary for them.
Here are 4 reasons why you need a privacy policy!
The most important reason you need a privacy policy is that you must comply with the privacy regulations that apply to you and your customers, wherever they are. Companies typically create a website to broaden their reach, which brings with it new laws to be aware of.
Not sure which laws apply to you? Take this 1-minute quiz!
Moreover, a growing number of third-party apps also demand that all business partners identify how they handle private information data. Though this provision somewhat anticipates tougher privacy legislation, the major goal of the privacy policy is to ensure a closed chain of protected data from vendors to end users.
For example, all Google and Apple products and apps currently require privacy policies from everyone with whom they collaborate. And, because analytics software is so reliant on personal data, utilizing it nearly always requires a policy.
This article is a part of our series on compliance for websites and apps. Read also:
People care about their privacy. With the number of data breaches reported in the news, it’s easy for anyone to feel unsafe. This encourages many people to study more about privacy, and once they understand the risks, they frequently want to ensure that their data is secure. Therefore a decent privacy notice can serve as a marketing tool as well as a legal concern.
As the owner of a website, you are responsible for the personal data of your users, such as their names, birthdays, postal addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and any other physical information that could be used to identify someone. Also, keep in mind that it includes non-descriptive information such as geolocation, shopping behavior, educational and medical background, and the contents of emails and texts.
The possibility of legal action should be enough to persuade you to create a privacy policy. If you collect data without a clear privacy notice, you risk fines and litigation that may cost you a lot of money.
Let’s be real… you can’t rely on the variety of “free templates” or “copy & paste.”
Many people use free templates and copy-pasting to avoid paying people who know what they’re doing.
You can get started with free templates. But are they effective enough to protect you from all of the above?
In law, a one-size-fits-all answer is likely to cause a lot of problems. Especially given the growing awareness of the importance of protecting personal data online. Most of the templates available online illustrate a broad case and will not shield you from claims and fines. And they are unlikely to address your specific company requirements.
iubenda generates privacy policies that work within the best-practices of various jurisdictions. With hundreds of available clauses, our privacy policies contain all the elements commonly required across many regions and services, while applying the strictest standards by default – giving you the option to fully customize as needed.
Our policies are created by lawyers, monitored by our lawyers and hosted on our servers to ensure that they are always up-to-date with the latest legal and third-party requirements. Our privacy policies are easily customizable and also come with the option to include a cookie policy (which is necessary if your website or app is using cookies).
Attorney-level solutions to make your websites and apps compliant with the law across multiple countries and legislations.
