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Generic Privacy Policy Template + What to Look Out For

Looking for a generic privacy policy template? There are a few things you need to take into consideration before doing so!

Your privacy policy is an important document for making your website compliant with data protection laws. It also allows you to inform your users of what you do with their data. That’s why the process of creating this legal document must be taken very seriously!

👀 In this article, we walk you through some pros and cons of using a generic privacy policy for your website, so you can make an informed decision. We also give a complete example of a privacy policy.

generic privacy policy

In this post, we explain:

What is a generic privacy policy?

A generic privacy policy is a standard, pre-written privacy policy that you can use as a starting point to develop your own privacy policy. These policies are often provided by website builders, for example, and can be customized to a certain extent by the organization to fit their specific needs.

They can only be used for getting started, since generic templates usually don’t include all legally-required disclosures.

👋 Not sure if you need a privacy policy?

🔍 Here are 4 reasons why you need one

And, what is a privacy policy, exactly?

A privacy policy is a legal document that outlines how you collect, use, and protect the personal information of your users. It typically includes information about:

  • the types of data collected,
  • how it is used,
  • with whom it is shared,
  • how it is protected, and
  • users rights over this data.

💡 More info on what should be in your privacy policy here.

Generic privacy policy template example

Click on the button below for an example of a privacy policy:

Privacy Policy
generic privacy policy template

🚩 Your privacy policy is an important document for your users, and is required by most data privacy laws. It is crucial for reducing the risk of fines for non-compliance or reputational damage. That’s why there are some key things to consider before using a generic privacy policy. Let’s take a look!

Is it safe to use a standard privacy policy template?

A generic privacy policy is only a starting point. It can be dangerous to rely on a standard template only, because it won’t fully reflect the specific practices of your organization.

It usually just covers general topics and provisions common to most businesses. Under the law, that’s not enough!

✅ Pros

  1. Convenience: A generic privacy policy can be an easy solution for websites that are just starting out and don’t have the resources or expertise to create a professional privacy policy;
  2. Cost-effective: You can most likely find free generic templates on the Internet.

❌ Cons

  1. Lack of customization: A privacy policy should inform users of the specific data collection practices of your organization, which technologies on your site collect data, what types of data… A generic document does not have all the legally-required information;
  2. Inaccurate information: A generic privacy policy may contain information that is not correct, or relevant to the organization or its privacy practices. Remember your privacy also needs to be up-to-date;
  3. Limited scope: A generic privacy policy may not cover all the necessary topics or provisions that are specific to your business or industry;
  4. Higher associated risks: You can never be sure generic templates have been drafted by competent lawyers, or include ALL necessary disclosures, which puts you at risk;
  5. Reduced credibility: Using a generic privacy policy may reduce the credibility of your organization, as users may see it as a lack of commitment to protecting their personal information.

💡 As you can see, the cons clearly outweigh the pros. For protecting your business from potential legal liabilities, we strongly recommend creating a customized privacy policy, adapted to your unique situation.

This is a lot of information. But creating an actual professional privacy policy doesn’t have to be complicated! Here’s how to create one in under 5 minutes ⬇️

With iubenda’s Privacy and Cookie Policy Generator, it’s easier than you think!

  • 🚀 Scan your site with our Site Scanner;
  • 🚀 Select and add all the relevant clauses specific to your website (i.e. Google Analytics, social media widgets…);
  • 🚀 Generate your privacy policy in one click (all clauses are pre-drafted by lawyers);
  • 🚀 Copy and paste the code to add the document to your website’s footer;
  • 🚀 Update your document whenever it is needed (required by law).

Create your custom privacy policy

Generate your free privacy policy