Are you looking for a professional CCPA privacy policy template? Then you’re in the right place!
Figuring out what a CCPA privacy policy should include can be tricky, but we’ve got your back. In this guide, we explain what a CCPA/CPRA privacy policy should include, and provide you with examples and an easy template.
You need a CCPA privacy policy if the CCPA/CPRA applies to you.
The CCPA applies to any for-profit entity doing business in California that either:
Please note that CCPA applies outside California as well. Your business could be based anywhere: as long as your services are accessible in California, you may need to comply with CCPA.
Under the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), businesses are required to include specific disclosures in their privacy policies in order to inform consumers about their data practices and rights. These disclosures must be complete, up-to-date, and easily accessible throughout the business’s website or app.
The following are the key elements that must be included in a CCPA privacy policy:
If you already have a privacy policy, make sure you have or add these CCPA privacy policy requirements or take a look at our CCPA privacy policy template below (California privacy policy template).
Under CCPA and the CPRA, users have the right to access: they can request a business that collects and process their personal information to access the data they have about them.
As a business, you must provide consumers with two or more methods for submitting access requests. These methods can vary from business to business, but must include, at a minimum, a toll-free number and, if the business has a website, the website address.
However, some exceptions apply. Your business can avoid providing a toll-free number if:
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The following table provides a comprehensive comparison of key aspects within the realms of CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), CPRA (California Privacy Rights Act), GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), and LGPD (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados) in Brazil. This analysis delves into their similarities, differences, and implications for businesses and individuals.
| Aspect | CCPA/CPRA | GDPR | LGPD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Applies to businesses collecting personal information of California residents, regardless of business location | Applies to businesses processing personal data of individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA) | Applies to businesses operating in Brazil, regardless of data processing location |
| Consent Requirements | Focuses on giving consumers the right to opt out of the sale of their personal information | Generally requires explicit consent for data processing, with some exceptions | Generally requires explicit consent for data processing, with some exceptions |
| Data Protection Officers (DPOs) | No specific requirement for appointing DPOs | Mandates the appointment of DPOs for certain types of organizations | No specific requirement for appointing DPOs |
| Penalties for Non-Compliance | Fines of up to $7,988 per violation for intentional violations and $2,500 per violation for unintentional violations | Fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global annual turnover, whichever is higher, for serious violations | Penalties of up to 2% of a company’s revenue in Brazil |
| Data Subject Rights | Right to access, delete, and correct personal information; right to opt out of sale of personal information | Right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and object to processing | Right to access, correct, delete, anonymize, or block personal data; right to request information on third parties with whom data is shared |
| Transparency Requirements | Businesses must provide privacy notices and disclose data collection and sharing practices | Businesses must provide privacy notices and be transparent about data processing practices | Businesses must provide clear information about data processing practices and obtain consent for data processing |
| Applicability | Applies to businesses collecting personal information of California residents meeting certain criteria | Applies to businesses processing personal data of individuals in the European Economic Area (EEA) | Applies to businesses operating in Brazil, regardless of data processing location |
Are you curious about what a CCPA privacy policy template (California privacy policy template) looks like? We understand your need for a clear example.
That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive CCPA compliance example using our user-friendly generator.
Our Privacy and Cookie Policy Generator allows you to include all the essential components:
Explore the document to gain valuable insights and a better understanding of how we cover the privacy rights of individuals in California. Click on the button to open it 👇
As you can see, the document outlines the categories of personal information of California residents that are collected, used, sold, or shared. It is generally a section dedicated to Californian consumers within the general privacy policy, and includes details on individuals’ rights, such as the right to access and delete their data, and the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal information. The policy also explains how to contact the business with privacy-related inquiries or complaints.
Remember, a proper CCPA policy helps protect consumers’ privacy rights and ensures compliance with the law.
Let’s have a look at a real-world example from Hellenic Technologies, a leading digital agency based in Greece. Their privacy policy demonstrates a commitment to transparency and compliance with data protection regulations. You can view their privacy policy to see how they inform users about their data practices and provide mechanisms for exercising privacy rights. Additionally, they include further information specifically tailored for California consumers to ensure compliance with CCPA privacy policy requirements.
Remember, a proper CCPA policy helps protect consumers’ privacy rights and ensures compliance with the law.
Now let’s have a look at a proper CCPA privacy policy template / CPRA privacy policy template that you can use as a starting point. This is just to give you an idea of how your document should be structured.
You will have to replace the fields highlighted in yellow and add all the necessary information according to your specific business scenario.
Using just a CCPA privacy policy template may be too complicated and a bit risky. We recommend using a professional solution: jump to this section to learn more.
[Here you should disclose your identity and make available all the necessary information to contact you]
Owner contact email: [your email address]
This Privacy Policy describes how [Your Company Name] (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects the personal information of California residents in accordance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
[In this section, you should summarize the categories of personal information that you’ve collected, used, sold, or shared].
Information we collect: the categories of personal information we collect
[Here you should describe the purposes of the collection, e.g. why you are collecting and processing personal information. A few examples may be the ones listed below.]
We won’t process your information for unexpected purposes, or for purposes incompatible with the purposes originally disclosed, without your consent.
[In this section, explain the data retention period, that is how long you will store the personal information you have collected]
[Explain how you are going to collect the information. A few examples are: web forms, navigation, third parties, etc.]
[Here you should explain the purpose of the collection]
[List what rights the users have in relation to their data. Under the CCPA users have:]
*Please note: additional rights may apply according to the CPRA. You can learn more here.
[In this section, describe how your users can exercise their rights. In particular, how to submit a verifiable request containing all the necessary information to process it]
[Explain how you will handle users’ requests and how long it will take to process it]
This is a general and basic template and must be customized to fit your specific circumstances and requirements. As mentioned, because these are legal documents, we highly recommend consulting with legal professionals or using a generator created by legal professionals to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Clear performance metrics, or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), are essential for both businesses and individuals seeking to ensure privacy compliance. These KPIs act as benchmarks, enabling evaluation of the effectiveness of privacy policies and data protection practices, crucial for adhering to regulations such as the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act). Prioritizing specific KPIs is key for instilling consumer trust and promoting transparency in data handling.
Below, we highlight core KPIs, such as the frequency of privacy policy updates and response times for privacy inquiries and data breaches, crucial for maintaining regulatory compliance.
| Metric | Description | Target/Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy Policy Updates | Frequency of updates to the privacy policy to ensure compliance. | At least annually or as regulations change. |
| User Consent Rate | Percentage of users who consent to the privacy policy and data processing practices. | Target >90% consent rate. |
| Data Access Requests Completed | Number of user requests for data access fulfilled within the legal timeframe. | 100% completion within 45 days (CCPA requirement). |
| Opt-Out Requests Processed | Number of user requests to opt-out of data selling or sharing processed successfully. | 100% processed within the legal timeframe. |
| Privacy Inquiries Response Time | Average time taken to respond to privacy-related inquiries from users. | Less than 24 hours for initial response. |
| Data Breach Response Time | Time taken to notify users and authorities in case of a data breach. | Within 72 hours of discovery, as per best practices. |
| Third-party Compliance | Monitoring and ensuring that third-party service providers comply with your privacy policy and standards. | 100% of third parties audited annually. |
“As required under the CCPA, the California Privacy Protection Agency has adjusted, and will do so every other year, monetary thresholds, monetary damages, administrative fines, and civil penalties, in line with increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The current adjustment is effective on January 1, 2025. The monetary threshold within the definition of businesses has been raised to $26,625,000, while administrative fines and civil penalties to $2,663 for each violation or $7,988 for each intentional violation and violations involving the personal information of consumers whom the violator has actual knowledge are under 16 years of age“
If the CCPA applies to you and you don’t have a valid privacy policy, you’re in breach of the law. The consequences of non-compliance are pretty serious:
While these fines might not seem like a lot when compared to the GDPR, do consider that the CCPA penalties apply per individual violation and per consumer. Here you can find more information.
As you can see, having a badly-written document can cost you way more than generating a legally sound privacy policy. Remember: templates can be a great starting point, but you should always make sure you’re document is valid and up-to-date.
iubenda can help you with that!
Creating a CCPA privacy policy is easy with our Privacy and Cookie Policy Generator: add all the relevant clauses, save, and embed the document on your website or app!
Yes, the CCPA can apply outside California as well. Your business could be based anywhere: as long as your services are accessible in California, you may need to comply with CCPA.
Though there are some similarities, CCPA and GDPR are two different laws. Just to mention a few differences:
Want to learn more? Check our guide 👉 CCPA vs GDPR: what’s the difference?
A CCPA policy is a document required to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act. It outlines (at the very least):
The safest way to write a CCPA policy is to seek the help of a legal expert: they will analyze your business situation and write a document to match your needs.
If you can’t afford to hire a legal expert, there are cheaper alternatives that are still safe to use. For example, you can rely on a generator created by legal professionals – like iubenda –, that allows you to customize your document with clauses written by legal professionals.
A best practice is to add your privacy policy in the footer of your website, so that users can access it anytime. Don’t forget to also add a link to your CCPA privacy policy in places like subscriptions or contact forms.
You need a CCPA-compliant privacy policy if your business is for-profit, operates in California, and meets any of the following criteria: processes personal information of 50,000 or more California residents, households, or devices annually; has annual gross revenues exceeding $25 million; or earns more than half of its annual revenue from selling California residents’ personal information. The law applies regardless of where your business is based, as long as you deal with California residents’ data.
The standard privacy policy in California tells people how a business collects, uses, and shares personal information. It needs to be easy to find on the website and must say what kinds of personal information are collected, how the business keeps that information safe, and how people can review and change their personal information. It also needs to explain how the business will let people know if it changes the privacy policy and if and how it tracks users over time and across different websites.
A CalOPPA-compliant privacy policy must:
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