Do all Websites Require a Privacy Policy?

Almost all countries mandate having a Privacy Policy for all websites. A Privacy Policy is a legal document developed to protect the personal data of clients and to introduce transparency in the use and management of their personal information. It is a policy statement of how a party gathers, uses, discloses, and manages the personal information that it collects from its clients.

Do all websites need a Privacy Policy?

Your website needs a Privacy Policy if you collect any personal information from your visitors, you place ads on your website or even if you use cookies. Personal data is any information related to a person that can be used to directly or indirectly identify the person. Personal data may be called ‘personal information’ or ‘personally identifiable information.’ It can range anything from a name, photo, email address, phone, bank details, medical information, posts on social networking websites, or a computer IP address. Thus, even if you collect information on your “Contact Us” page, you need a Privacy Policy. If you provide a service and some users visit your website, then you need a Privacy Policy.

Things you should know about a Privacy Policy

A Privacy Policy is always specific to a website. Its terms depend on the nature of service you provide and your data collection practices. An ideal Privacy Policy is drafted after thorough study and practical understanding of the SaaS product, website or mobile app and your data collection practices.
A privacy policy should be created in a way that fosters transparency and confidence in your site. Your users should understand it easily and clearly.
The exact content of an individual Privacy Policy depends on the applicable law and also the requirements across geographical boundaries. The legal landscape and laws involved can be confusing. Hence, it is advisable to consult a professional.
A Privacy Policy should explain what personal information the SaaS application collects and how such information is used. It also should mention whether the information will be made public, access by third parties to such information.
An ideal Privacy Policy also contains a statement as to the measures of data protection, i.e., how the user’s information is safeguarded. It is a good practice to mention the technologies the SaaS supplier uses for security of data.
Practices regarding cookies and other tracking technologies that you use for must be mentioned in the Policy.
Some countries have specific requirements for Privacy Policy. For example, laws of some countries (EU) require that Privacy Policies explain the legal basis of the collection of such personal information.
It is necessary to constantly monitor legal landscape for possible changes. Any changes in the laws should reflect in the privacy policy.

Privacy Policy is a global requirement. No doubt one solution to all, readymade, vaguely worded, generated privacy policies, may work for some but such documents can only serve as a stop-gap arrangement.

Please contact Legawise for assistance in drawing up a Privacy policy for your website or assessing whether or not your existing policy is best fits with your business.