Website Compliance and The California Consumer Privacy Act
Making sure that your business website is compliant with privacy regulations is a way to help your audience feel safe in 2020. In fact, most privacy policies are legally binding. Ensuring that your users’ data is secure is the first step toward a fully functional and competitive business website. With the impending launch of California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) regulations, it’s time to make sure your website meets the new privacy standards in order to be usable by everyone.
Why is Website Accessibility Compliance Important?
Website accessibility compliance includes following the WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) accessibility standards that apply to your website type. Accessibility compliance is important because one out of every four United States residents lives with a disability. If that’s not reason enough to comply with accessibility standards, people with disabilities represent 56.7 million potential customers, which equates to $491 billion in disposable income.
To sum up, non-compliant businesses are essentially risking $491 billion in sales.
We’ll help you work toward WCAG 2.1 accessibility compliance. Learn more about our web accessibility services to get started.
What Is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)?
While website accessibility is your first step toward a functional business website, you should also always be focusing on your users’ privacy. One of the ways website privacy is getting enforced is through GDPR. GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation, and in May of 2018 The Information Commissioner’s Office began enforcing it. The policy gave members of the European Union more control over their data privacy … and impacted all organizations doing business with European citizens.
GDPR compliance means that businesses only collect personal data with consent from the consumer in question. Additionally, that business is responsible for said personal data in the event of a data breach. Make sure your website is compliant with GDPR if your site meets the criteria. Now, let’s take a look at the newest set of privacy regulations since GDPR.
What Is The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)?
The European Union set the world stage for website privacy (and compliance!) with GDPR in 2018. The state of California will be following suit next month by enforcing data privacy regulations. The California Consumer Privacy Act takes effect on January 1st, 2020, in the state of California. Similar to GDPR, it affects all organizations doing business with a resident of California. The CCPA is a privacy law meant to give users greater control of online selling and sharing of their data. With the CCPA, you’ll be required to have an “opt-out” link on your site in case someone doesn’t want their data sold.
Even if your business is not be affected by the CCPA, there’s a good chance more states will follow in California’s footsteps. Besides, good data security equates a better user experience, higher levels of trust in your organization, and makes your website more accessible. Better privacy goes hand-in-hand with accessibility because complying with privacy and accessibility regulations both make for a better user experience.
Want to learn more about the CCPA?
Always Be Compliant
Website accessibility and data privacy will both play important roles in the world in 2020. At Oneupweb, we have a skilled team of website privacy and accessibility compliance experts ready to help you make your business’s website privacy and accessibility compliant, maximizing your audience and reducing your liability. Reach out today or give us a call now at 231.922.9977.
