Privacy policy

What is a privacy policy and why is it necessary?

A privacy policy is a legally required document that informs users about what personal data is collected from them, how this data is used, and whether it is shared with third parties.
It is crucial to ensure transparency and to ensure that users' data protection rights are respected.
In many countries, including the European Union, a privacy policy is required by law to ensure compliance with data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

What information must be included in a privacy policy?

A complete privacy policy must include a range of essential information, including

• The type of data collected (e.g. name, email address, IP address)
• The purpose of the data collection (e.g. for marketing, customer service)
• How the data is used (e.g. to improve services)
• Whether and how the data is shared with third parties
• The duration of data storage
• The rights of users in relation to their data, including the right of access, rectification, erasure and objection

When and where should a privacy policy be provided?

The privacy policy should be placed in an easily accessible location on the website, often in the footer or via a direct link on each page. It is important that the statement is provided before data is collected from users. This is especially true for websites that use forms, cookies or other tracking technologies to collect personal data.

Which laws regulate the requirements for privacy statements?

The most important laws that regulate the requirements for privacy policies include

• The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe, which sets out detailed requirements for transparency and protection of personal data.
• The CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) in the US, which provides similar rights for California residents
• IPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) in Canada, which regulates the protection of personal data.

What happens if my website does not have a privacy policy?

The lack of a privacy policy can have significant legal consequences. It can lead to fines, lawsuits and damage to your company's reputation as it is a violation of privacy laws. In addition, user trust in your website and your business could be significantly affected, which could have a negative impact on your business activities.

Why is a cookie consent manager important in the context of privacy policy?

A website's privacy policy must not only cover general data collection and use practices, but also provide specific information about the use of cookies and similar tracking technologies.
Since cookies can collect personal data such as IP addresses and online activity, the General Data Protection Regulation and other data protection laws require that users give their consent to the use of cookies before they are activated.
This is where a Cookie Consent Manager (CCM) comes into play.
CCM19 is a tool that helps website operators to obtain, manage and document user consent for the use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
It ensures that the website meets the requirements of the GDPR by:

• Displaying a cookie banner that informs users about the use of cookies and asks for their consent.
• Providingsettings that allow visitors to a website to specify which types of cookies they wish to accept or reject
• Createstransparency by allowing users to change or withdraw their consent at any time.

A cookie consent manager is therefore an indispensable tool to ensure that data protection regulations are not only recorded in the privacy policy, but also effectively implemented in practice.
It helps to strengthen user trust in the website and minimize the risk of data protection violations.