Who needs a Privacy Policy
Any entity (company or individual) that collects or uses personal information from users will need a Privacy Policy.
A Privacy Policy is required regardless of the type of platform your business operates on or what kind of industry you are in:
Websites
WordPress blogs, or any other platforms: Joomla!, Drupal etc.
E-commerce stores
Mobile apps - Not having a Privacy Policy can be a reason for rejection during the app review.
For example, as of October 2018, a Privacy Policy will be required for all iOS apps.
Facebook apps - Facebook requires all pages, groups and events that collect user data to have a Privacy Policy:
Facebook General Policies on Pages, Groups and Events: Collecting Data from Users clause with Privacy Policy requirement
Desktop apps
All SaaS apps must have a Privacy Policy
Digital products
If you use Google AdSense, you need a Privacy Policy:
Google AdSense Online Terms of Service: Privacy clause
The basics of a Privacy Policy
Flag of EU
In the EU, the GDPR requires companies dealing with EU citizens to have a Privacy Policy.
This law became enforceable in early 2018 and has affected businesses around the world. Not only does it require a Privacy Policy, but it has requirements for what must go into a Privacy Policy and how it must be written and displayed.
As a general rule, if you're compliant with Privacy Policy requirements of the GDPR, you'll by default end up complying with most other privacy laws around the world. That's because the GDPR is so robust and comes with stringent requirements.
US Flag
In the US, privacy legislation may vary from one state to another. Certain federal laws govern users' data in some circumstances, such as in these examples:
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act - This act obliges organizations to offer clear and accurate statements about their information collecting practices and it also limits usage and sharing of financial data.
COPPA - This act is especially for businesses that collect information about children under 13 years of age.
Health Insurance Po
