Are you running ads on Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, or another advertising platform?
Did you know you need a privacy policy to run those advertisements? Even if you are just using Google Analytics, you must have a privacy policy.
If you didn’t read the terms and conditions before accepting them, you might not realize Google Analytics requires a privacy policy. When creating an Analytics property, you agree to disclose your use of Analytics and have a privacy policy. This is what Google wrote exactly:
You must post a Privacy Policy and that Privacy Policy must provide notice of Your use of cookies that are used to collect data. You must disclose the use of Google Analytics and how it collects and processes data. This can be done by displaying a prominent link to the site “How Google uses data when you use our partners’ sites or apps”
After finding out you’re required to have these pages, you might have many questions going through your head. I’ve answered a couple of commonly asked ones from website and marketing clients:
Is a Privacy Policy Legally Required?
While terms and conditions, sometimes referred to as terms of service and privacy policies, are often hidden on websites (tucked away at the site’s footer), these pages are required in many countries around the world.
In the United States, there is no federal law requiring a privacy policy. However, specific states like California have regulations about this. There are also regulations and laws concerning the handling of data of minors, using third-party processors, cookie consent, and the right to data access.
The laws in the United States that require a Privacy Policy:
- CalOPPA: California Online Privacy Protection Act
- CCPA: California Consumer Privacy Act
- California Business Code
The other laws and acts that regulate personal data for all consumers in the US have privacy implications. They don’t state you need a privacy policy, but many were created before the internet became popular.
- The Americans With Disability Act
- The Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984
- The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
- The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986
- The Computer Security Act of 1997
- The Consumer Credit Reporting Control Act
But What Is a Privacy Policy?
A privacy policy is a legal document on your website that discloses the ways your service or website collects, processes, stores, shares, and protects user data. Plus, having a privacy policy and terms of service will protect your business and limit liability if there is a data breach or cyber attack.
Do I Even Collect Personal User Data?
You may think you don’t collect any data from users. However, suppose you use Google Analytics, allow comments on your site, offer users to send a contact form, or use a third-party service that tracks users (like Google Analytics). In that case, you collect and process user data.
So How Do I Create a Privacy Policy?
Creating a Privacy Policy is daunting.
No one privacy policy is the same. Instead, a privacy policy can outline unique requirements depending on how you process data, collect user information, and use third-party services.
Large organizations often turn to a privacy lawyer who can craft a privacy policy and other legal documents that fit their needs and limit liabilities for the business. But unfortunately, as a small business or startup, you likely don’t have a privacy lawyer on speed dial.
There is another, easier way to generate a privacy policy or even terms of service page.
Use a service like TermsFeed to generate all the legal agreements and documents you might need to operate online.
Many of their documents start out free with the basic language required. When you go through the process of generating a privacy policy, TermsFeed asks for info about your business, what data is processed, and what third-party services are used. For example, adding Google Analytics language is $24, and if you collect payments and need to add language around the payment processor, that is $14.
Summary
Suppose you need a privacy policy, terms of service, cookies policy, EULA, or a return & refund policy for your eCommerce business. In that case, TermsFeed offers an easy way to generate those documents tailored to your business’s unique requirements.
Not only is a privacy policy required in many countries and states, but a well-written privacy policy can also limit a business’ liability.
The whole process can take less than 15-minutes, cost less than $300 for every possible upgrade, and be pasted into any website system – WordPress, Shopify, Wix, and others.
If you have any questions for our team, reach out to us via our contact form.
