The first version of this tutorial.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
What is a Privacy Policy
WordPress Privacy settings and guide
A few WordPress Privacy plugins
– Complianz GDPR plugin
– CookieYes plugin
– Cookie Notice plugin
– GDPR Cookie Compliance plugin
– Cookie Notice & Consent plugin (smaller)
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
“The General Data Protection Regulation (EU) (GDPR) is a regulation in EU law on data protection and privacy in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). The GDPR is an important component of EU privacy law and of human rights law.
The GDPR’s primary aim is to enhance individuals’ control and rights over their personal data and to simplify the regulatory environment for international business.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation
What is a Privacy Policy?
If you collect any personal data from individuals, then there’s a good chance you’ll need a Privacy Policy for your website or mobile app.
A Privacy Policy is a key legal document which describes your company’s data processing practices. This article will break down how a Privacy Policy works and how you can create a Privacy Policy for your own website or mobile app.
https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/what-is-privacy-policy/
WordPress Privacy settings and guide
WordPress backend: Left WP sidebar menu. Under Settings -> Privacy.
Privacy Settings
Create a new Privacy Policy Page.
Change your Privacy Policy Page.
Privacy Policy Guide
Policy Guide – Suggestions what to include.
Policies – Example with direct suggested text.
WordPress core links:
Engage with the Privacy components and raise issues/recommendations to core through Make WordPress.
GDPR compliance tools in WordPress
A few WordPress Privacy plugins
I am sharing information about some of the most popular privacy plugins as well as a few smaller plugins.
Complianz GDPR plugin
Complianz – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent by Really Simple Plugins.
Complianz is a GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent plugin that supports GDPR, ePrivacy, DSGVO, TTDSG, LGPD, POPIA, APA, RGPD, CCPA/CPRA and PIPEDA with a conditional Cookie Notice and customized Cookie Policy based on the results of the built-in Cookie Scan.
Complianz Plugin description
After activating the plugin a Wizard is seen. At the end of the wizard one can modify the GDPR / Privacy banner seen on the frontend.
The default Cookie banner seen on the frontend:
The plugin can seem overwhelming but going through the wizard step by step really helps.
Plugin settings:
Dashboard – Show the wizard, Documents, Other regions, Tools, Tips & Tricks and it suggests other plugins.
Wizard – Overview of the various Wizard pages.
Cookie banner – Style your banner, General, Appearance, Customization, Banner settings and Categories.
Integrations – Services, Plugins and Script Center
Settings – General, Data, Cookies and Data Requests.
Data requests
Proof of consent
Upgrade to premium – links to https://complianz.io/l/pricing
My conclusion based on what I noticed.
There are many wizard screens to go through. It would be helpful to starting out in a more simple way. Then gradually going through the wizard.
CookieYes plugin
CookieYes | GDPR Cookie Consent & Compliance Notice (CCPA Ready) by CookieYes
“The CookieYes GDPR Cookie Consent plugin will assist you in making your website GDPR (RGPD, DSVGO) compliant by adding a cookie banner to your site.”
CookieYes plugin description
After activating the plugin and going to the plugin dashboard it asks the user to “Connect your website to CookieYes”. One needs to create an account.
We see the following Cookie Banner – General screen to where one can modify the banner seen on the frontend.
This is the default banner as seen on the frontend of a site.
Plugin Settings:
Dashboard – Connect to the CookieYes website. Overview. Youtube video.
Cookie Banner – General, Layout, Content & Colors, Custom CSS.
Cookie Manager – Cookie List and Scan History.
Languages
Policy Generators – Privacy Policy Generator and Cookie Policy Generator.
My conclusion based on what I noticed.
One needs to create an account in connecting the website with CookieYes.
Cookie Notice plugin
Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR / CCPA by Hu-manity.co
“Cookie Notice provides a simple, customizable website banner that can be used to help your website comply with certain cookie consent requirements under the EU GDPR cookie law and CCPA regulations…”
Cookie notice plugin description
There is one long scrollable screen which has various information. It starts with a warning, which is a bit exhausting and does not help. It would be better to focus on what needs to be done.
Plugin Settings.
Compliance Settings – Compliance status, App ID, App Key.
Notice Settings – Message, Button text, Privacy policy, Refuse consent, Revoke consent, Script blocking, Reloading, On scroll, On click, Accepted expiry, Rejected expiry, Script placement, Deactivation.
Notice Design – Position, Animation, Colors, Button class.
My conclusion based on what I noticed.
Having a huge warning sign at the top after having activated the plugin is a huge let down. Radio buttons in red and green does not help. It has a one page settings page. The plugin can in general be improved.
GDPR Cookie Compliance plugin
GDPR Cookie Compliance (CCPA, DSGVO, Cookie Consent) by Moove Agency
“Prepare your website for cookie consent requirements related to GDPR, CCPA, DSGVO, EU cookie law and notice requirements…”
GDPR Cookie Compliance plugin description.
After installing I noticed the double line left WP sidebar menu item. The various colors used in the settings screen. As well as the many menu items located in the left settings tabs.
Plugin Settings.
Branding, Cookie Banner Settings, Floating Button, General Settings, Privacy Overview, Strictly Necessary Cookies, 3rd party Cookies, Additional Cookies, Cookie Policy,
Documentation, Video Tutorial, Support, Licence Manager,
Google Site Kit, Export/Import Settings, Multisite Settings, Accept on Scroll/Hide timer, Full-screen/Cookiewall, Analytics, Geo Location, Hide Cookie Banner, Iframe Blocker, Cookie Declaration, Consent Log, Renew Consent
My conclusion based on what I noticed.
Double line in left WP menu takes too much space. Having so many setting tabs, is just too much. It should be better organized.
Cookie Notice & Consent plugin
Cookie Notice & Consent by Christoph Rado
Cookie Notice & Consent makes it easy for you to collect consent for the usage of cookies.
It lets you define different cookie categories and display them within a notice banner.
Plugin description.
A much smaller and not so active plugin. After installing the plugin I noticed it’s setting where added to the WordPress Settings drop down. One called Cookies and the other Cookie Consents (can be turned off).
Plugin settings.
General Settings
Design Settings
Essential Cookies
Functional Cookies
Marketing Cookies
Consent Settings
Consent Statistics
My conclusion based on what I noticed.
The plugin is very small and it is very easy to add a banner to the web site. I do miss having some documentation on how different aspects of the plugin works. I am working on getting some documentation.
Resources to take a closer look at.
Privacy Policy Generator, Terms & Conditions Generator WordPress Plugin : WPLegalPages plugin
Scan your web site to see if it is cookie compliant – cookiepro.com
UniConsent Cookie Consent CMP for GDPR / CCPA plugin
