Privacy policy template important tips for your business

Privacy policy template important tips for your business

What is a privacy policy template?

A privacy policy template is a statement or a legal document that states how a company or website collects, handles and processes data of its customers and visitors. It explicitly describes whether that information is kept confidential, or is shared with or sold to third parties.

Who needs a privacy policy template?

Any entity either a company or individual that collects or uses personal information from users will need a privacy policy template.

Why you need a privacy policy template?

Around the world, laws and regulations have been developed for the protection of data related to government, education, health, children, consumers, financial institutions, etc.

If you own a website, web app, mobile app or desktop app that collects or processes user data, you most certainly will have to post a Disclaimer or privacy policy template on your website or give in-app access to the full Privacy Policy agreement. Companies or websites that handle customer information are required to publish their Privacy Policies on their business websites.

3 main reasons why privacy policy template must be post on a website.

Privacy Policy is required by the Law

For individuals to feel comfortable sharing their personal information on the internet, there should be some sort of legal responsibility on businesses to protect that data and keep the users informed about the status and health of their information.

Privacy Policy is required by Third Party Services

Many websites and apps use in-page/in-app advertising by third parties to generate revenue. As these ads also collect user data, third parties require the websites or apps to ask their users’ permission for sharing their personal data.

Apart from governing laws, some websites like Apple, Amazon, and Google require website and app owners to post a Privacy Policy agreement if they use any of their services.

Privacy Policy For Increased Transparency

A clear and comprehensive Privacy Policy agreement that tells users exactly what information the company collects and what it does with that information inspires confidence in a business. Companies whose business models revolve around handling sensitive customer information find it incredibly important to establish trust with their users. It gives users a sense of security knowing how much control they have over their personal data under the conditions they sign up for.

What to include in an privacy policy template?

Information Collection and Use section is the most important section of the entire agreement where you need to inform users what kind of personal information you collect and how you are using that information.

Log Data disclosure section should inform users that certain data are collected automatically from the web browser users are using and through the web server you’re using: IP addresses, browser types (Firefox, Chrome etc.), browser versions and various pages that users are visiting.

Cookies disclosure should inform users that you may store cookies on their computers when they visit your website. This applies even if you use Google Analytics (which would store cookies) or any other third party that would store cookies.

Links to Other Sites section should disclose that your website may link to other websites outside your control or ownership, i.e. linking to a news website, and that users are advised to read the Privacy Policies of each website they visit.

Security disclosure in the policy can give users assurance that their personal data is well protected, but you may also want to note that no method is 100% secure.

Sample of a privacy policy template

To be transparent with your users about what personal information you collect and what you do with it, you are required to publish a Privacy Policy agreement on your website or give in-app access to it.

Websites usually post a link to the complete Privacy Policy agreement from the footer of the website, whereas apps generally add the Privacy Policy to an “About” or “Legal” menu.

Regardless of whether you own a website or app that collects, processes, and/or stores user information, you have certain responsibilities to your users. The most primary responsibilities on your part as a website owner are to keep their personal data secure, protect their privacy to the best of your ability, and to keep them informed about how their data will be stored and processed by providing a Privacy Policy.