Privacy Policy Q&A

What is a privacy policy?

A privacy policy is a statement or legal document that discloses some or all of the ways a party gathers, uses, discloses, and manages a customer or client's data.

Is my business too small for anyone to care about this? 

Some laws that are being proposed or passed do not limit enforcement and liability to large companies, so your small business could be liable as well. Also, consumers do not distinguish between small and large businesses when it comes to protecting their privacy and are less likely to buy from companies that do not respect their privacy.

How do I know if I’m collecting personal information on my website? 

You are collecting personal information on your website if you have a contact form that asks for the user’s name, email, or phone number. Also, you’re collecting personal information if you ask for the user’s email to sign them up for an email newsletter. All of which are beneficial to have on a website, so don’t shy away from having them.

There are currently no privacy laws in my state, does that mean that I don’t need a Privacy Policy? 

The laws that are in place and being proposed protect the residents of that state, not the businesses. As you know, people from California aren’t just going to websites of businesses located in California, they go to websites all over the United States. This means that you need a Privacy Policy if you collect personal information on your website, regardless of where you are physically located.

We use a service called Termageddon. Termageddon is a generator of policies for websites and applications. When the law changes, so do the policies, keeping your company protected and allowing you to focus on more important things. Here is a quick video that might help you, too! So, let’s work together and put a privacy policy on your bronze, silver, or gold website.