Privacy Policy Changes And Terms of Service Updates

Website attorney updatesYour website attorney probably gets asked this question a lot. When you’re updating your website’s terms of service (a.k.a. terms of use, terms and conditions of use) or privacy policy, how do you let your website visitors and customers know about it?

For those who have opted into one of your email lists, send out a brief notice that…

1. Tells them you’ve updated the documents.
2. Briefly explains in plain English what you’ve changed.
3. Includes a link to the changed document on your site so they can read it.

For those who visit your site but aren’t on your lists, post a notice on your home page. Here’s an example…

“Our Privacy Policy has been updated. Please click here to see what’s been changed.”

Of course, you’ll want to link from the statement to the policy that’s been modified.

Be sure to use a decent-sized font and don’t try to hide the notice by matching the font color to your site’s background. Make it easy to see.

In other words, treat your visitors and customers with the same respect you like to receive when the websites you go to change their terms and policies. If you have any questions, talk with your website attorney to ensure you’re doing the right thing by your visitors and customers while minimizing your legal risks in the process.

If you haven’t updated your website legal documents to reflect the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines that went into effect on December 1, 2009, chances are what you have on your website is obsolete.

To your online success!

-Mike the Website Attorney

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Website privacy policy news you can use

Website attorney privacyTalk with your Website attorney about these developments. As I mentioned the other day discussing seven Internet biz trends you should watch for in 2011, three U.S. government agencies are gearing up to crack down on the Internet…the FTC, the FCC, and the FDA. The FTC has just come out and endorsed the FCC’s plan to regulate the Internet.

Now it gets more interesting on two fronts today…

1. The Obama Administration’s Department of Commerce released an 88 page report that supports the FTC’s plans … plus plans to create a new government Privacy Policy Office. Implementation would include additional funds for the FTC to enforce privacy laws against Internet business owners.

2. The United Nations is exploring ways to control the Internet and using the WikiLeaks fiasco as the reason for doing so. They want to create a new international group that sets uniform standards and then enforces those standards on the Internet.

What should you do?

Have your Website attorney review your site. Get your ducks in a row by making sure your website privacy policy is accurate and that you follow it when dealing with website visitors and customers. That way you’ll be prepared.

To your online success!

-Mike the Website attorney

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Can you believe someone would do this to a dying 7-year old girl?

Web lawyer privacyKathleen’s mother died of a brain disease when only 24 years old. Kathleen at age 7 is also dying of the same disease.

Neighbors have posted a pic of her mom on Facebook with the Grim Reaper. Kathleen gets similar treatment with a photo containing cross bones. h/t Parents: Dying Girl, 7, Taunted by Neighbors in Trenton.

When I wrote “Are Internet sociopaths out to get you?,” this is exactly the type of horrible conduct I was talk about. As a Web lawyer, I become increasingly cynical every time I see heart-rending stories like this one.

Unfortunately, blogs, forums, and social media tools like Facebook make it easy for sociopaths, psychopaths, and the permanently stupid to hurt people without consequences.

This partially explains the increasing awareness and demand for online privacy rights by Internet users. It also explains why privacy and personal safety are becoming big issues.

The same tools that are used to ridicule a dying little girl can just as easily be abused to stalk her or worse.

That’s why you should separate yourself from the crowd by making it clear to your website visitors that you respect privacy rights. You do this with your website privacy policy and your site’s content.

Whether you’ll be legally required to do so is one thing. Talk with your Web lawyer about what you’re supposed to be doing. Regardless, protecting privacy and treating people with respect is the right thing to do.

To your online success!

-Mike the Web lawyer

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