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 Washington State, businesses that operate websites and collect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from their users are expected to have a privacy policy in place. This policy must clearly disclose the types of PII collected, the purpose of collection, how it is used, and the circumstances under which it may be shared. Washington's privacy laws, such as the Washington Privacy Act (WPA), are designed to protect the privacy of residents by regulating the handling of PII. The WPA, however, has faced legislative hurdles and as of my knowledge cutoff date, has not been enacted. Nevertheless, businesses must also comply with applicable federal privacy laws like the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) for collecting information from children under 13, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines for fair information practices. Additionally, if a Washington-based website collects information from residents of other states or countries, it may be subject to those jurisdictions' privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents. It's important for businesses to stay informed and compliant with both state and federal regulations regarding data privacy to avoid legal repercussions.