Home
/
Our Insights
/
Article Detail
/
Home
/
Home
|
Login
Our Team
Our Expertise
Our Insights
BOOK CONSULTATION
SUBSCRIBE
Our Team
Our Expertise
Our Insights
You can share this article in the following networks2:
The importance of a privacy policy for your business
15 May 2018
484
“I’ve been working with developers to take my business online. They have advised me to make sure I have a proper privacy policy drawn up for my website. Is this really necessary or can I just use a standard one from the internet?”
In an era where personal information is collected, shared, and sold to third parties for commercial gain or benefit, often without the knowledge or consent of the consumers, people want to know how their personal information will be handled by businesses and to whom and for what purposes such information will be transferred. Transparency in the use and protection of data establishes trust between a business and the public it wishes to engage with.
A privacy policy explains to the public how your business collects personal information and data, how such information will be used and stored, what it is used for and how and with whom such information will be shared and for what purpose.
A privacy policy on your website will allow users of the website to make an informed decision as to whether to use your website or refrain from doing so.
It should be noted that the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (which has been signed into law but has not yet come fully into effect) (“POPI”) should be factored into the formulation of an appropriate privacy policy for your business. In terms of POPI, reasonable practical steps (through for example a privacy policy) must be taken to ensure that data subjects (the persons whose personal information is processed by your business) are aware of who is processing their personal information, why such information is being processed and whether the supply of the information is voluntary or mandatory. POPI further requires responsible parties to inform data subjects of the nature and category of personal information that you collect from them.
A proper privacy policy for your online business should be constructed to be read together with the terms and conditions of use of your website, as well as your access to information manual (required in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000).
As this is a specialist area, we support the recommendation of your developer to engage the support of a data specialist or POPI expert to assist you in developing a tailored privacy policy for your business. This is a far better and appropriate way to establish trust with your consumers than just copying an example from the internet.
Previous
When to register your BEE transaction with the B-BBEE Commission
Next
Donation Agreements the nature, effect and legal implications
Tags:
Commercial
,
Compliance
,
Data Protection
,
Information
,
POPI
,
Privacy
Share:
Talk to us
Get in touch with us to discuss how we can help you with your challenges
Get in touch
Related Insights
Small Credit Agreements - What are they and what interest can be charged
Debt Collection
Default Judgment? What should I do to clear my Credit Record?
Popular Insights
Dont' lose your Title Deed
Does your husband’s Nyatsi qualify to be a beneficiary in terms of Section 37C of the Pension Fund Act?
Who inherits under a Deceased Estate when there is no Will?
Recent Insights
The purpose behind the path of law
The furtherance of justice, a historic view
Small Credit Agreements - What are they and what interest can be charged
You can share this article in the following networks:
Offices
+27 57 916 6666
Back to top