Does Your Website Need a Privacy Policy in 2019?

Does Your Website Need a Privacy Policy in 2019?

Whether you are running a business in Coral Springs, Parkland or anywhere in Broward County you need to stay informed on how business law affects you.

With more consumers using the internet to search for goods and services, it is important for a business to have a website that attracts users. With that goal in mind, businesses invest substantial funds in developing, updating, and maintaining their websites for their customers, clients, and users.

However, some business owners overlook an extremely important factor that should be includedin every website — a privacy policy.

What is a Website Privacy Policy?

The simple definition of a privacy policy is a statement or document that discloses how you:

• Collect user information;
• Manage that information;
• Protect a user’s information; and,
• Share information with other parties.

A website privacy policy may be a standalone statement or document, or it may be includedin the website’s Terms of Use.

Because of data breaches and cybersecurityconcerns, many consumers are taking notice of privacy policies on various websites they use. They want websites to ensure that their personaldata is protectedfrom cyber hacks and accidental leaks.

In addition, consumers are also becoming increasingly concerned with how websites share their personaldata. Facebook, Panera Bread, Under Armour, Saks and Lord & Taylor are just a few of the companies that had problems with data breaches in 2018.

Personal information that a company may collect about users, customers, and clients may include information such as their names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and birth dates.

However, other information collected may include passwords, logins, navigation history, credit card information, and answers to security questions. A breach of any of this data could cause serious problems for an individual.

What is Requiredin a Website Privacy Policy?

In most cases, a company customizes its website privacy policy to meet the specific data collection and data use policies for the company. Some of the general topics covered in most comprehensive website privacy policies include:

• Personal Data Collection— A privacy policy should describe all information collected by the website owner. A company should be careful to include whether it also collects analytic and usage data information such as IP addresses, web browsers, viewed pages, operating systems, Internet service providers, and access information.
• Use of Cookies — If your website uses cookies, this information should be disclosedto users with a statement that cookies may be deleted or disabled. You may want to include a notification that disabling cookies is up to the user, however disabling cookies may negatively affect one or more website features.
• Use of Data — Describe how your company intends to use the data it collects. Make sure the privacy policyincludes all potential uses of data, including working with third-party service providers such as website security companies and websitemanagement firms.
• Data Sharing Policies —If you intend to share a user’s data, you need to inform the user of this policy in your privacy policy. Sharing user data includes sharing, selling, transferring, or otherwise allowing any other entity to view the user data you collect.
• Maintenance and Storage — Privacy policies should also contain information about how user data is stored and maintained. For instance, how long is user data retained and where is the information stored. You should also include information about how users can request deletionof their information from the company records.
• Protection of User Information —Protection of user data is a high priority for companies and consumers. Your privacy policy should clearly outline that while it is impossible to guarantee against all malicious attacks or compromises, your company utilizes the most current cybersecuritytechnology to protect the user’s information. You may also want to add information about how your users can protect their data and encourage them to take a proactive role in protecting their data.

The above list is just a sample of the information that a company should include in its website privacy policy. Your company likely needs a much more detailed website privacy policy to protect your company and your users.

Because you want to ensure that your website privacy policy is compliant with all state and federal laws and includes all required information, it is best to consult with a business law attorney instead of using a free DIY template online.

Contact Matthew Fornaro, P.A. for More Information

Matthew Fornaro, Esq. assists clients throughout Coral Springs, Parkland and Broward County. Call 954-324-3651 or contact us online to request a consultation with an experienced Coral Springs, Parkland and Broward County business law attorney.