A website privacy policy is a legal statement a business places on its website to inform users of what personally identifiable information (PII) the business collects, and how it complies with privacy laws. Privacy laws govern the collection, use, storage, protection, sharing, and deletion of PII—and the disclosure to consumers of what PII a business has collected about them. Examples of PII include names, addresses, telephone numbers, credit card information, and online user names and passwords. Many states have privacy laws, and these laws vary from state to state.
In Maine, businesses that operate websites and collect personally identifiable information (PII) from their users are required to have a privacy policy in place. This policy must clearly disclose the types of PII collected, the purposes for which it is collected, how it is used, and whether it is shared with third parties. Maine's privacy laws are designed to protect the privacy of its residents by ensuring that businesses handle PII responsibly and transparently. While Maine does not have a comprehensive privacy law like California's Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), it does have statutes that address specific aspects of data privacy, such as the Maine Revised Statutes Title 10, Chapter 210-B, which requires notification of Maine residents in case of a security breach involving their personal information. Additionally, Maine's Act to Protect the Privacy of Online Customer Information requires internet service providers to obtain consent before selling or sharing customers' PII. It is important for businesses to comply with these regulations and to be aware of the federal laws, such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, which also apply to the collection and use of PII online.