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Privacy protection rights of your visitors<\/h3>\n In addition, a privacy policy in Dutch also includes information about how data is stored ( among other things via cookies), secured and shared. You should also indicate how long you will retain certain data. Or what you as a company will do in case of data loss<\/strong>, a leak, hacking ...<\/p>\nVisitors also want to know which \"third parties\" you share their data with. For example, with service providers, advertisers or government agencies.<\/p>\n
All this information is needed to make visitors or potential customers aware of their privacy rights and how their data is processed.<\/p>\n
If you want to take it a step further, you can also explain yourself what rights your users have. There are quite a few! Like the right to access, correct, delete ...<\/p>\n
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Tip<\/p>\n
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The Data Protection Authority, a Belgian independent authority that ensures that basic principles of personal data protection are properly observed, has its own website where, among other things, you can read what privacy rights you have.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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If you collect (special) personal data, having your own privacy statement is mandatory.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Why creating a privacy policy is important<\/h2>\n Whether you want to put a standard privacy policy or a more detailed description online, drafting a privacy policy is always a good idea.<\/p>\n
The most important reason to develop your privacy policy is, of course, because it is required by law. Anyone who starts a website or webshop must comply with (European) laws and regulations. More about that in a moment!<\/p>\n
A privacy policy is a crucial part of ensuring the privacy of your users<\/strong> while protecting your organization's reputation. Because by being transparent, you create more trust with your visitors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
You want visitors to trust you<\/h3>\n At this point, we don't have to tell you how important customer trust<\/strong> is<\/strong>. The more data leaks there are, the more internet users - not entirely unjustifiably - begin to worry. So your audience will start looking into their own privacy data. They will consider you responsible for handling their data safely. Think about birthdays, phone numbers, e-mail addresses ...<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nMore than half of companies suffered a recent data breach in the year 2023. Unplanned disruptions caused by cyberattacks are also increasing, and becoming more and more expensive.<\/p>\n
ITdaily<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
Your privacy policy must prevent visitors from doubting the security of your site or online shop. If problems do arise, your policy is a legal tool<\/strong>, while you can also use it as marketing.<\/p>\nAnother important point: more and more third-party apps are asking for transparency (Third-Party Requirements) regarding the handling of private data from business partners.<\/p>\n
Both Google and Apple currently require privacy policies from everyone they partner with<\/strong>, for all their products and apps. Since analytics software relies heavily on personal data, a policy is almost always required when using it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Prevent hefty fines!<\/h3>\n If you want to avoid hefty fines, create a privacy policy. Whether we are exaggerating? No, because the average GDPR fines in Belgium are up to 25,000 euros<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n
The bottom line is always the same: fines were issued to companies that did not comply with GDPR privacy guidelines. GDPR, by the way, stands for General Data Protection Regulation. That's the international term when talking about AVG.<\/p>\n
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Is a privacy policy required by law?<\/h2>\n We'll go over it a few more times: yes, a privacy policy is mandatory. The European Union decided so by enacting GDPR, and it's penalizing those who violate those clear but strict rules.<\/p>\n
As soon as you process personal data through your websites, you must create a privacy policy.<\/strong> Do you have a contact form on your site, do you collect e-mail addresses to send newsletters, can customers enter contests ... Those are immediately three boxes on your GDPR bingo card. \ud83d\ude09 So that puts you within the category of organizations that process personal data.<\/p>\n\n
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Rules and laws you must comply with<\/h2>\n What rules and laws related to privacy do you need to consider? They mainly have to do with General Data Protection Regulation (AVG), cookie policies, and data protection.<\/p>\n
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Webshop or website? You always need to put this info online:<\/h3>\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Name of your own business.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Legal form under which you exist.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Address of your company's registered office.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Contact details.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Company number and VAT number.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Details of a supervisory authority (only if you need a license for your activity).<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nStrictly speaking, you must also include those details on your various accounts on social media. The department of economics of the Belgian government explains it all:<\/p>\n\n