6 Key Points Every Website Privacy Policy Should Contain

Every Social Networking Site, Blog, Website, etc. should have a Privacy Policy. A Privacy Policy can minimize liability for a site owner. For example, it can reduce Invasion of Privacy Claims. When a site is very thorough and transparent regarding whether user's personal information is gathered; how the information is gathered; and whether the site is using third-party applications to get this information, an Invasion of Privacy Claim is severely diminished. An Invasion of Privacy Claim occurs when the site is doing any of the above actions without disclosing these actions to the site user.

In addition, a Privacy Policy also protects users of the website. It gives users information on whether their personal information is being collected and how it is being used. It is then the choice of the site user to further engage or use the site.

When implementing a Privacy Policy, it should contain the following key points:

1. What type of personal information is collected?

2. What type of technology is used to collect information? How the website will use the information collected?

3. Who will receive the personal information collected?

4. Specific measures in place to protect personal information.

5. If the user voluntarily shares their personal information to the public, then their is no expectation of privacy.

6. How one can opt out of their personal information being gathered and/or shared with third parties.

When drafting a Privacy Policy, I recommend hiring a New Media Attorney. Although there are numerous form Privacy Policies on the internet, only a custom privacy policy can specifically address your site's technology and whether you are gathering information and how. Also a custom privacy policy can address whether you are sharing user information with third parties and identify each third party.

Remember one of the keys to running any business whether on the internet or brick and mortar is to minimize liability. Therefore having a Privacy Policy is good business sense.

Facebook's New Privacy Policy: What does it mean for users?

Hello:

Previously I wrote a blog post about the importance of having a privacy policy if you own or maintain a website (blog, social network, etc.)

I discussed the need of website to state clearly: what information is collected from users; reveal what type of technology is used to collect information; explain to users what is done with the information collected; give users the option to opt out of providing information; and reveal measures in place to protect users' personal information.

Facebook recently revealed the company modified its privacy policy to require API Developers (3rd party application developers) to inform users in advance of what categories of data is needed to use the application. In addition, when users authorize an application, they can opt out of giving certain information. This change comes on the heels of Canada's Privacy Commissioner's concern about the "over-sharing of personal information with third-party developers of Facebook applications such as games and quizzes."

In my opinion this is a good move. Although the option to download third party applications is a user's choice, giving user's the ability to opt out of giving detailed personal information while still using the application, will possibly encourage more users to use the applications. Also the new policies give user's more detailed information about what information is required before downloading the applications. Now user's can make a more informed choice.

I welcome your thoughts!

Does Your Website have a Privacy Policy?

Hello!

As web 2.0 continues to expand, online privacy is becoming a major focus point for individual consumers and regulators. Specifically, there is concern about how personal information of users and visitors of social networks and blogs is gathered and used by owners of these sites. There are several bodies of rules and regulations that address this very issue. They are the Federal Trade Commission's rules on behavioral advertising, Communications Decency Privacy Act, European Union Directive on Data Protection and various state privacy laws.

An owner of a website should have a very clear and direct privacy policy that states the following:

1. what type of personal information is collected
2. what type of technology is used to collect information
3. how the website will use the information collected
4. who will receive the personal information collected
5. specific measures in place to protect personal information
6. if the website will not use personal information
7. if the user voluntarily shares their personal information to the public, then their is no expectation of privacy,
8. how one can opt out of their personal information being gathered and/or shared with third parties.

Having a privacy policy can minimize liability for invasion of privacy claims and ensure a website owner is compliant with all federal and state privacy laws. A privacy policy also protects the reader or user of the website. The consumer is informed about how their information is used and can dictate to website owners whether they want their information shared or not.

Having a privacy policy is just good business sense.

I welcome your thoughts!