What Is A Privacy Policy?

A Privacy Policy is a legal document that sets out how your business collects and uses the personal information of online customers. “Personal information” is a legal concept and it includes an individual’s name, signature, address, telephone number, date of birth, medical records, bank account details and commentary or opinion about a person.

Do I Need It?

Yes. If your company holds anything that falls into the broad category of personal information – which is generally any small business, charity or group that has data about users or customers such as their names and email addresses – you’ll need a privacy policy.

Although your new business may have limited means to cover the costs of such legal obligations, it can be a good commercial decision to get a Privacy Policy in place early anyway to be safe.

Also for most online businesses, the personal information of your customers are very useful, particularly for marketing purposes. To make sure that you don’t get caught offside, your internal process documents needs to set out how you’ll be using personal information.

How Do I Use It?

Normally, a Privacy Policy is attached to your Terms & Conditions. For example, you may have a check box for users to select to that states “By signing up to the application, I agree to the Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy”.

Privacy Policy Example

Michael has created an app that allows users to create personal to do lists. Before users can access the app, Michael requires them to create an account. Creating an account includes inputting personal information like name and email address. Before registering the account and using the app, Michael has included a check box for users to select stating that the user agrees to the App T&Cs and the Privacy Policy. There are links to the App T&Cs and Privacy Policy for the user to read through before accepting.

Need Help With A Privacy Policy?

Putting together a Privacy Policy can seem like a daunting process, as it’s hard to know what to include and how to word it. It’s a good idea to get a lawyer to assist you with this process, as it’s a one-off cost that can save you from disputes and liability in the long run.

At Sprintlaw, we have a team of experienced lawyers can assist you with drafting or reviewing Privacy Policies. Get in contact with one of our consultants for a no-obligation chat on how we can help you put together a Privacy Policy and help with any other legal issues your business may have.

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