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Under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), organisations must provide individuals with certain information via a data privacy statement or privacy notice.
But what is a data privacy notice, and what should it contain? We explain everything you need to know in this blog – along with a GDPR statement example.
What is a privacy notice?
A privacy notice is one of several documents required for GDPR compliance.
But whereas many of these documents are strictly internal, a privacy notice is provided to customers and other interested parties, explaining how the organisation processes their personal data.
There are two reasons for doing this. First, it prevents any confusion about the way personal data is being used and ensures a level of trust between the organisation and the individual.
Second, it gives individuals more control when an organisation collects their personal data. If there’s something they aren’t happy with, they can query it via a DSAR (data subject access request) and ask the organisation to suspend that processing activity.
How to write a privacy notice
Article 30 of the GDPR explains that a compliant document should include the following details:
1) Contact details
The first thing to include in your privacy notice is the name, address, email address and telephone number of your organisation.
If you’ve appointed a DPO (data protection officer) or EU representative, you should also include their contact details.
2) The types of personal data you process
The definition of personal data is a lot broader than you might think, so you must ensure you’ve included everything necessary – and in specific detail.
For example, instead of just saying ‘financial information’, state whether it’s account numbers, credit card numbers, etc.
You should also outline where you obtained the information if it wasn’t provided by the data subject directly.
For an idea of what this might look like, take a look at our privacy notice template:
Be as specific as possible about the type of information you collect and how you obtained it.
3) Lawful basis for processing personal data
Under the GDPR, organisations can only process personal data if there is a lawful basis for doing so. Your privacy policy should specify which one you’re relying on for each processing purpose.
If you are relying on legitimate interests, you must describe them. Likewise, if you’re relying on consent, you should state that it can be withdrawn at any time.
Remember that there are specific rules when it comes to processing special categories of personal data.
4) How you process personal data
You must explain whether you will be transferring personal data to third parties.
We suggest also specifying how you will protect shared data, particularly when the third party is based outside the EU.
You might decide to state whether data will be shared with organisations based outside the EU.
5) How long you’ll be keeping their data
The GDPR states that you can only retain personal data for as long as the legal basis for processing is applicable.
In most cases, that will be easy to determine. For example, data processed to fulfil contracts should be stored for as long as the organisation performs the task to which the contract applies.
Likewise, organisations should hold on to any data processed on the grounds of a legal obligation, public task or vital interest for as long as those activities are relevant.
Things are trickier with consent and legitimate interests, as there is no clear point at which they’re no longer valid.
As such, we recommend reviewing your data retention practices at least every two years.
6) Data subject rights
The GDPR gives individuals eight data subject rights, which you should list and explain in your privacy notice:
- Right to be informed: organisations must tell individuals what data of theirs is being collected, how it’s being used, how long it will be kept and whether it will be shared with any third parties.
- Right of access: individuals have the right to request a copy of the information that an organisation holds on them.
- Right of rectification: individuals have the right to correct data that is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Right to be forgotten: in certain circumstances, individuals can ask organisations to erase any personal data that is stored on them.
- Right of portability: individuals can request that an organisation transfers any data that it holds on them to another company.
- Right to restrict processing: individuals can request that an organisation limits the way it uses personal data.
- Right to object: individuals have the right to challenge certain types of processing, such as direct marketing.
- Rights related to automated decision making, including profiling: individuals can ask organisations to provide a copy of its automated processing activities if they believe the data is being processed unlawfully. You should also remind individuals that they are free to exercise their rights and explain how they can do this.
Create your own GDPR-compliant privacy notice with our template.
Why you need a privacy notice
Privacy notices are a legal requirement under the GDPR, ensuring that individuals are aware of the way their personal data is processed.
However, they can also benefit organisations in several ways.
For one, privacy policies provide documented proof of your data processing activities. This helps you justify your processing if someone lodges a complaint with their supervisory authority.
GDPR policies and procedures can also help you win business, as they prove that you have appropriate information security measures in place.
Is a privacy notice the same as a privacy policy?
Although they cover many of the same topics, you shouldn’t confuse privacy notices with privacy policies.
In the context of the GDPR, a privacy notice is a publicly accessible document produced for data subjects.
By contrast, a GDPR privacy policy is an internal document that explains the organisation’s obligations and practices for meeting their compliance requirements.
When should you provide a GDPR privacy notice?
Data controllers must provide a privacy notice whenever they obtain a data subjects’ personal information.
The only times this isn’t necessary are when:
- The data subject already has the information provided in the privacy notice;
- It would be impossible or involve a disproportionate effort to provide such information;
- The organisation is legally required to obtain the information; or
- The personal data must remain confidential, subject to an obligation of professional secrecy.
When an organisation obtains personal information from a third party, it must provide a privacy notice within a month.
This should be done the first time the organisation communicates with the data subject or when the personal data is first shared with another recipient.
The easiest way to provide a privacy notice is to post it on your website and link to it whenever appropriate.
If you don’t have a website, you should make a physical copy of your privacy policy available.
Writing your privacy notice
Your privacy policy must be written in clear and straightforward language that data subjects can easily understand.
This is particularly important when you are processing children’s personal data, as there are many concepts that you’ll have to explain in more detail.
In general, privacy policies should be written in the active voice and avoid unnecessary legalese and technical terminology.
Likewise, you should avoid qualifiers such as ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘some’ and ‘often’, as they are purposefully vague. Saying you ‘may’ do something doesn’t help the data subject work out under what circumstances it will happen.
Finally, the policy should be free of charge and easily accessible. Don’t hide it in a link at the bottom of a form where few people are likely to see it.
You should instead provide the policy to them in writing or link to it when asking for their personal data.
Take the guesswork out of your privacy notice
Are you looking for more advice on how to document GDPR compliance? If so, our customisable privacy notice template is ideal.
Our template privacy notice includes annotations to ensure you meet the GDPR’s requirements.
Written by data protection experts, this GDPR template helps you produce a privacy notice in line with the Regulation’s requirements in just a few minutes.
A version of this blog was originally published on 8 November 2018.
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