There’s been a massive outcry by the public and government about how tech companies breach public trust in handling user data. Sure, the internet has been a blessing, but it also poses new challenges.
In today’s world where data is the new goldmine, data protection has become a big deal – it’s even the law. To ensure the legality of a website, having a privacy policy is a must. However, how in-depth should it be? This post explores the important components of a website’s privacy policy.
What is a Privacy Policy?
This is a statement contained on a website that explains how the operators of the site will collect, store, protect, and use personal data collected from its users. As it is obvious, the content of a privacy policy is based on what the website does.
In Australia, the Privacy Act dictates how personal information must be handled by organizations. A good example of a comprehensive privacy policy can be found on a website like the Australian national character check which handles background checks in Australia. Keep in mind that there is no “generic privacy policy”. Every organization will have its own policy depending on its processes.
What Should It Entail?
Here are some of the most important information that needs to be included in a website’s privacy policy:
- Which Information is Collected
All the types of personal data being collected from users must be contained in the policy. This may include data like IP addresses, email addresses, and even financial payment information. It should be as detailed as possible to leave little room for errors.
Furthermore, it should explain when the data is being collected. For instance, email data is usually collected at the point of registration, while the IP address is constantly updated anytime you make a connection to a website’s server.
- How the Personal Information will be Used
It’s not enough for websites to list the data they collect, they must also state how the collected data is being used. Some of the major reasons personal information may be collected include:
- To notify visitors about important updates.
- For marketing purposes
- To share with third parties for advertising or analytics… and more.
- Again, the use of personal data is dependent on the type of business, however, it must be clearly stated.
- How the Information is Collected
Here are multiple ways of data collection, including cookies, surveys, weblogs, registration, newsletter sign-up, credit info when placing an order, and more. Website visitors have to be aware of how their data is being collected.
- Data Protection in Place
Breach of data is a big issue today. In order to maintain trust, visitors have to be certain that their data is well protected. In the privacy policy, actions taken to protect user data must be explained. It may involve the use of firewalls, data encryption, and physical access control.
- Is Data Shared With Third Parties?
Many websites make use of third-party tools to help with lead generation, content optimization, customer service, analytics, and more. If this is the case, then the website must disclose this in their privacy policy.
- The Use of Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Almost all websites use cookies, mostly for analytics and advertising. Since cookies collect personal information from visitors, they should be included in the privacy policy.
- How Users can Control their Data
New laws are now giving users greater control over their data. Therefore, the privacy policy has to contain info on how users can exercise their data rights, like accessing, changing, transferring, or deleting their information.
- Notification for Policy Changes
It’s only normal that the policy gets updated from time to time. For significant changes that affect the users, they need to be informed. The privacy policy should contain information about how users will be updated on new updates, for example, maybe through an email.
Conclusion
The privacy policy of your website must fully reflect every aspect of how users’ information will be used. This helps to build trust and avoid legal troubles. But no matter how thorough a privacy policy is, it must be written in lucid terms so that it is easily understandable for website visitors.
