When does my website need a privacy policy?
Your website needs a privacy policy if it collects any personal data - including via Google Analytics (which collects IP addresses and browsing behavior), contact forms, email sign-up forms, cookies, comment sections, or user accounts. GDPR (EU) requires a privacy policy for any website processing EU residents' data, regardless of where the website is hosted. CCPA (California) requires it for businesses meeting specific thresholds. In practice: any website using Google Analytics needs a privacy policy.
What must a GDPR-compliant privacy policy include?
GDPR requires: identity and contact details of the data controller, types of personal data collected, purposes and legal basis for processing each data type, data retention periods, third parties who receive the data, international data transfers and safeguards, user rights (access, deletion, portability, objection), right to withdraw consent, right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, and whether providing data is mandatory or voluntary.
What is the difference between a privacy policy and cookie consent?
A privacy policy is a document disclosing your overall data practices - what you collect, why, and how. Cookie consent is a mechanism (usually a banner) that obtains explicit user permission before placing non-essential cookies (tracking, analytics, advertising). GDPR requires both: the privacy policy explains what cookies you use, and the consent banner gets permission before activating them. A privacy policy alone does not satisfy GDPR cookie consent requirements.
Does a generated privacy policy count as legal advice?
No - a generated privacy policy is a template, not legal advice. It provides the standard structure and typical clauses, but your actual data practices must be accurately reflected in the policy. A template that says 'we collect email addresses' when you also collect location data is worse than no policy - it misrepresents your practices. Review the generated policy against your actual data collection, and consult a lawyer for businesses handling sensitive data, health information, or operating at scale.
What is the difference between a privacy policy and terms of service?
A privacy policy discloses how you collect, use, and protect user data - it addresses users' privacy rights. Terms of service (or terms and conditions) define the legal relationship between your platform and users - usage rules, prohibited behaviors, IP ownership, disclaimers, liability limits, and dispute resolution. Most websites need both. Privacy policy = data protection. Terms of service = usage agreement.