Privacy: a subject that is more complex than one might think!

or how to ensure effective compliance and consent management while protecting users' personal data?

In the world of web marketing, privacy management and regulatory compliance are essential pillars for the sustainability and credibility of online businesses. Since the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018, the landscape of personal data management has undergone profound changes. While some businesses might think that the path to compliance is now well-marked, the reality on the ground reveals increasing complexity and constant challenges.

“The General Data Protection Regulation (RGPD) came into force in France in May 2018. Six years later, it seems that all privacy topics are clear and under control by all organizations. The latter are therefore now compliant and for them, the stress around user consent is only a distant memory... or not! The reality is that privacy issues are complex.

First, there is the issue of regulatory compliance. In Europe, there is the RGPD, in California the CCPA, but there is also the APPI in Japan (since 2005), the DPA in the United Kingdom or the PIPEDA in Canada. Since site visitors are protected by these regulations, a site may have to comply with several of these standards, depending on its audience. These regulations do not only cover tags, but the entire management of personal data within a company, which is necessarily complicated to coordinate.

Then there is consent management. It is the most visible subject and therefore the most followed by advertisers... and the CNIL. Thanks to the work done by publishers around their products (Onetrust, Didomi, CommanderSact or Axeptio, for example), which make their CMP (Consent Management Platform) accessible at a reasonable price, all actors are now equipped. But being equipped does not necessarily mean being compliant. The maintenance of these lists of cookies and trackers remains tedious, and few actors are, in reality and despite their efforts, completely respectful of consent.

There are also real topics around data security. Advertisers are required to implement robust security measures to protect the personal data of their users, beyond topics related purely to database and site security. For example, it is not easy to know what exactly a tag placed on the site does. How can you ensure that a small script integrated into GTM does not collect personal data for which it has no consent?

Can Seenaptic help me with these topics?

Seenaptic Privacy makes it possible to carry out daily audits of the site (s) by ensuring, for example, that the consent of the users is really respected, that all the cookies present are well identified and categorized and respect the instructions such as the maximum lifespan, that the data of European users is well stored in Europe or in appropriate countries, and that no personal data is recovered by third party tools. In the event of a problem or a new resource detected on the site, clear alerts are issued to react as quickly as possible.”

Privacy compliance is far from being a simple check off the to-do list of web marketers and website managers. It is a dynamic and constantly evolving process that requires vigilance and adaptability. Tools like Seenaptic Privacy play a crucial role in simplifying this process, providing the means to not only track but also anticipate regulatory requirements. Taking a proactive approach to privacy management is not only a legal requirement; it is also a commitment to the trust and safety of your users. By staying at the forefront of compliance and investing in the right resources, businesses can not only avoid sanctions, but also strengthen their reputation and relationships with customers.