The Importance of Cookies and Privacy Policies
With new websites appearing every day and clients situated all over the world with different privacy regulations, understanding privacy laws can be a very difficult task. As an owner of any website or mobile application, it is important to maintain a current and thorough privacy policy in order to manage personal information.
A privacy policy is a statement that describes how an organization or website collects, stores, protects, and uses personal information submitted by its users.
Personal information is defined differently depending on the specifics. Personal information may include:
· Name
· Birth Date
· Email or Residing Address
· Payment Details
· IP addresses and location
· Social Security Number
Privacy policies outline not just how the organization will use the data, but also how it will satisfy its legal requirements and how people who provide their data can seek redress if the organization fails to satisfy those requirements.
What are Cookies?
Computer cookies aim to assist a website in keeping track of its visits and activities, which is not usually a negative thing. Many online businesses, for instance, use cookies to maintain track of the items added to a customer’s shopping cart while they browse their site.
A website cookie’s most essential function is to keep a user signed in when they go from page to page. The website then stores the user’s browsing history in its database, which it eventually utilizes to help optimize the user experience.
Why do you need a Privacy Policy?
While there are no federal privacy laws in the United States up to this day, the state of California has established its own to safeguard the privacy of its residents. According to the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA), every commercial website that gathers and utilizes personal information from residents of California must post a prominent privacy policy that explains how that information is collected, processed, and shared.
This law promotes openness by requiring businesses to provide users a notice at the start of the collection or before they begin. That collecting notice should include a link to a privacy policy that should be updated at least once a year.
Do I need to have a Privacy Policy for my business?
If a business collects any amount of data about anybody who interacts with it, it should have a privacy policy in place. Given that most (if not all) websites utilize cookies to better understand their users’ behavior, it’s reasonable to assume that every company with an online presence needs a privacy policy.
How do I integrate cookies and a Privacy Policy into my site?
Depending on your target audience and the privacy regulations that apply to your business, your website may require a separate Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy. Even if your website operates for marketing purposes only, posting your Privacy Policy online is a recommended practice.
Adding Cookies
We recommend adding a cookies banner or pop-up on your website to explain your website’s cookie usage. The banner or pop-up must give users the choice to approve or refuse the use of website cookies. You can see an example of ours below.
Adding a Privacy Policy
Every page of your website should have a link to the privacy policy. We recommend linking it in the footer of your website to make it visible on every page. Make sure that the entire page is dedicated to the Privacy Policy and that the information is clear and legible.
Footer Links and Side Menus
Final Thoughts
If you gather any type of personal information on your website, it is important to keep in mind that you need a privacy policy.
There are several ways to ensure that your website complies with applicable privacy regulations. You may also confer with a lawyer who will be able to assist you and can draft a policy specific to your company. If you are searching for a cost- and time-effective option, you may also try using online privacy policy generators such as Website Policies. Lastly, privacy policies do not just apply to websites. If you own a mobile application, you will need one as well in order to make it accessible for download around primary app stores.
DISCLAIMER
Our blog posts at Luminescent Dreams are meant purely for educational purposes. It is not legal advice and should not be treated as such.
References:
“What Are Cookies?” Norton, 12 Aug. 2019.
“Cookie Policy for GDPR and CCPA Compliance | Cookiebot CMP.” Cookiebot, 13 July 2020.
BigCommerce. “What Is a Cookie and Why Is It Important?” BigCommerce, 16 Aug. 2020.
“Where to Add on Websites/Apps.” Privacy Policies, Wanda W., 15 Jan. 2021.
PrivacyPolicies.com. “Separate Cookies Policy from Privacy Policy.” Privacy Policies, 3 Feb. 2021.
