As a Data Privacy Solutions Engineer, I usually get this questions “what are the elements of a data privacy notice?”
In an effort to empower and encourage businesses to respect privacy, safeguard and enable trust, I would like us to learn about one of the privacy documents that are essential for privacy compliance, governance and management in your organization. In this article, you will learn more of what a privacy notice is, its components and where it is used.
Following the enactment of the EU GDPR 2018, and an influx of Data Protection or Privacy Laws across the globe, many organizations embarked on compliance with the data privacy regulatory requirements in their respective regions.
What then is a privacy notice?
A privacy notice is an essential part of the privacy documentation. Unlike a privacy policy, a privacy notice is an outward-facing statement that is written for data subjects and data protection authorities. To simplify the difference, a privacy policy is internally focused on telling employees what they may do with personal information while a privacy notice is externally facing telling customers, regulators, and other stakeholders what the organization does with personal information.
Alternative definition: A privacy notice a public statement addressed to data subjects outlining how an organization manages data subjects’ personal information and adheres to data protection legal requirements.
A privacy notice is often referred to as a Privacy Statement.
Where to find a privacy notice & examples of a privacy notice
A privacy notice can be presented to data subjects in many ways. These include;
- A page on the enterprise website that describes privacy-related activities.
- A form that asks for personal information indicates how the personal information will be used and safeguarded.
- Brochures that describe privacy protections and rights of a data subject.
- Signs on buildings or interior walls, such as those warning that cameras are in use, can serve as privacy notices.
- etc.
When does the privacy notice apply?
- When you visit or use consumer and customer-directed websites, applications, or social media channels;
- when you purchase and use products, services, systems, or applications
- when signing on contracts, such as those for loans or other financial services.
- when you subscribe to newsletters, journals, news bulletins, promotions, etc.
- when you provide to companies with your goods or services
- when you contact a customer support center of an organization
- when you sign up to join business events.
- when you interact with an organization (directly or indirectly) in your capacity as a consumer, business customer, partner, (sub) supplier, contractor, or other people with a business relationship with a particular organization.
So, what then is the Purpose of the Privacy Notice?
- It describes and covers how the enterprise collects, uses, retains, safeguards, and discloses personal information.
- It establishes the legal accountability for the associated enterprise to follow the practices listed in the privacy notice.
- It educates data subjects using language that is as easily understood as possible on how their data is collected, used, with whom the personal data are shared, and how long it retained.
As a good business practice, a privacy statement or policy should be posted on the homepage of your website or the mobile application. A privacy notice, on the other hand, may be promptly delivered to the data subject at or just before the point of collection of personal data from them. Having a privacy notice establishes the legal accountability for the associated organization to follow the best practices or required practices listed in the privacy notice.
Important to note:
A number of people are unaware of, and uninformed about how their personal information is being collected, processed, used, stored, or shared in our digital society and I would like to remind you that your privacy is important. Its a fundamental human right, so always remember to read privacy notices to learn how your personal data is processed by the company that you are transacting with.
If the company is an international organization, the notice may be replaced or supplemented in order to fulfill local requirements, as well as in order to fulfill local requirements and to provide you with additional information on how we process your data.
Are you planning to develop a privacy notice for your organization or you already have one?
#dataprivacy #personalinformation #dataprivacyact #privacynotice
Originally published here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elements-privacy-notice-veronica-rose-cisa/?trackingId=iN40PzgfQ%2FyEmbcxtP9ROA%3D%3D
