Why is the POPI Act important?
People have the right to privacy, and this extends to the internet. As website users, we have the right to know exactly what information is being collected from us – and if there is data being collected, what will the collectors of the data do with it? Answering any and all questions website users might have about their privacy while on your website is what POPIA is all about. It’s about making your stance on data processing available to everyone.
What does your website need to get POPI compliant?
There are four important pieces of information that will have to appear on any website in order to be POPIA compliant:
- Website Privacy Policy – A website privacy policy document is a page, usually linked to in the bottom area of a website, that outlines and explains how the website (and the organisation who owns it) will collect, protect, and utilise the information users might share (contact forms, newsletter sign-ups).
- Cookies Policy – Cookies are bits of information websites collect about user interactions with websites. This ‘behaviour tracking’ is called cookie collection, and the website’s Cookie Policy details the types of cookies being tracked and by whom.
- Terms of Use – This is a document (or section of a privacy policy document) that informs the website browser of the terms of using the website. An example of this is the above cookies policy pop-up, where users of the website are prompted to accept cookies in order to stay protected while browsing the website.
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