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 West Virginia (WV), there is no specific state statute that requires businesses to have a website privacy policy. However, businesses operating in WV must comply with applicable federal privacy laws such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires websites collecting information from children under 13 to have a privacy policy, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), which applies to financial institutions. Additionally, businesses that collect personal information should be aware of the general principles of privacy protection, such as those outlined by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which include transparency about data collection practices, consumer consent, and data security. While WV may not have its own privacy laws regarding website privacy policies, businesses that collect PII from residents of other states may need to comply with those states' laws, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), if they are applicable. It is advisable for businesses to have a privacy policy that clearly outlines their practices regarding PII to build trust with users and to prepare for potential future state regulations or changes in federal law.