Does Your Blog Have A Privacy Policy?
I’ve just applied for a new blog advertising network, and one of the requirements for membership is to have a privacy policy linked to from the homepage.
I have a comment policy to reduce the chances of the site being accused of online libel, but I suddenly realised that I didn’t have a privacy policy for the site, which could leave me open to further legal problems.
If you don’t have a privacy policy yet for your site, I recommend that you consider adding one ASAP.
What Is A Privacy Policy?
A privacy policy is a legal notice on a website providing information about the use of personal information - particularly personal information collected via the website - by the website owner. Privacy policies usually contain details of what personal information is collected, how the personal information may be used, the persons to whom the personal information may be disclosed, the security measures taken to protect the personal information, and whether the website uses cookies and/or web bugs.
Source: Wikipedia
Why Do You Need A Privacy Policy?
Adding a privacy policy is a good way of telling your readers that you will respect their privacy, and that they don’t have to worry about handing over any of their details to you. By adding an easy-to-understand privacy policy to your Web site, that explains what information you will (and won’t collect) and how you will (and won’t) use it, will create a climate of trust and encourage visitors to feel comfortable doing business with you.
The exact contents of a privacy policy will depend upon the applicable law. For instance, there are significant differences between privacy laws in the US and in Europe. For a blog I don’t think you need to go to the nth degree with your privacy policy, but just add one that is clear and easy to read. For instance, my current privacy policy reads as follows:
Connected Internet may from time to time collect names and/or details of website visitors. This may include the mailing list, blog comments sections and in various sections of the Connected Internet site.These details will not be passed onto any other third party or other organisation unless we are required to by government or other law enforcement authority.
If you contribute content, such as discussion comments, to the site, your contribution may be publicly displayed including personally identifiable information.
Subscribers to the mailing list can unsubscribe at any time by writing to info (at) connectedinternet.co.uk
Connected Internet links to independently run web sites outside of the connectedinternet.co.uk domain. We take no responsibility for the privacy practices or content of such web sites.
Connected Internet uses cookies to save login details and to collect statistical information about the numbers of visitors to the site.
Connected Internet is suitable for all ages, but not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years old.
This policy will be updated from time to time. If we make significant changes to this policy after that time a notice will be posted on the main pages of the website.
As you can see my privacy policy isn’t very onerous and is easy to read. If you do want a more concrete and lengthy privacy policy for your blog, then google ‘privacy policy templates’ and you will find a number of both free and premium templates available.
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Comment by Shashank on 13 February 2008:
Thanks for the heads up on this…i ve yet to add a privacy policy for my blog.
Comment by Martin on 13 February 2008:
I’ve actually read somewhere that a privacy policy (plus terms of service) and a contact us page increase the (internal) Google ranking of that site because it normally means it is more trustworthy..
Comment by Mosey on 17 February 2008:
I was thinking about it a little while ago when I first started thinking of redesigning my site. However, as the site isn’t really official in any way (fan site) I always wondered if putting a privacy policy was a bit ’stand-offish’ or strange given that I don’t exactly have anything important to say to people (bar the -probably badly written - news updates and such)