Magento 2 GDPR : How to make your website comply with it?

General Data Protection Regulation- GDPR, the EU data protection directive, have come into effect on May 25, 2018. In this article, we discuss what GDPR is and the responsibilities it places on website owners. Then we give you specific steps to move your website toward GDPR compliance.

1. What is GDPR?

The main purpose of GDPR is to protect privacy and prevent data breaches. More specifically, GDPR rules apply to website that:

  • Deals with personal information of EU users
  • Offers goods or services EU citizens
  • Processes financial transactions or monitors EU customer activities.
What is GDPR

2. What are requirements of GDPR?

GDPR is about processing personal data in transparent, concise, intelligible and free of charge way. There are some main requirements of GDPR:

It allows to collect personal data if users consent.

  • Making data anonymous to protect privacy.
  • When first you become aware of the breach, you have to send notification to customers within 72 hours
  • The privacy requirements by design
  • Right to access, Right to be forgotten and Data portability.

3. The steps for Magento Stores Comply GDPR

While the exact guidelines of the GDPR are fairly in-depth, there are some rules of thumb that will help Magento merchants avoid violations.

gdpr

Refine your privacy policy

You should update your privacy policy to ensure that it makes your collection and use of data transparent. This contains the detailing your data collection practices, cookie usage, data privacy rules related to when user data may be shared. In addition, make sure that it includes information about data that is collected by any plugins.

Your privacy policy might include items such as:

  • We do not sell data
  • We do not share data unless compelled by law
  • We only ask for personal information if it is need to provide a service

Follow these and combine with the detail of the types of data you collect, what you use it for and how you protect it.

Although making transparency can result in a long – wind and complex privacy policy, you try your best to keep it simple and use clear language to complete.

Obtain the clear agreement to use cookies

The GDPR states that cookies constitute personal data because they can be used to identify an individual. Therefore, you have to obtain the clear agreement of users to place cookies and track them. This could be handled by popup. When the user firstly visit your site and this popup appears and allows users consent or decline cookie use. To comply with GDPR, you can’t have the default answer such as accepting. You have to require the user to pick an option. If the user doesn’t agree clearly, you can’t place cookies on their browser. In that case, the personalization feature will be lost but your site is still accessible without cookie placement.

Ensure your plugins complying with GDPR

Many plugins make use of user data. Therefore, you have to review which plugins make use of your user data and what they do with it. Because your plugins must also comply with GDPR. Besides, if any plugin makes use of cookies, this use must be listed in your privacy policy and agreed by users.

You are responsible for ensuring that every plugin can export/provide/delete the user data it collects. For example, plugin “send page by email” collects the recipient address. Unless you have explicit consent, that will violate GDPR.

Limit the data you collect and store via form submissions

Forms have the potential to collect a lot of interesting personal data. However, you don’t do it. You should collect only the field you actually need for processing. You also don’t keep the data for longer than absolutely required. In fact, many form plugins store submitted forms in the database. And many such plugins are being modified to include a “do not store form data” option in the configuration.

Clean up your mailing lists

Does your website incorporate a mailing list? Have you already employed the double opt- in for your list? Double opt-in means that after users provide their email, you send a message containing a confirmation link. Then the user must click this link to complete their subscription. GDPR doesn’t require double opt-in. However, it is a perfect way to ensure that the agreement of users are obtained. You shouldn’t purchase mailing lists from a third party because maybe the contacts in these lists haven’t given consent for such use. Then you will be in violation of GDPR.

4. Magento 2 GDPR and GDPR compliance

When it comes to Magento, it has implemented several initiatives across sales, marketing, operations, and product to help merchants be ready to GDPR requirements. That is why many store owners are using a GDPR for Magento to be ready for GDPR. We have also created a free GDPR Magento 2 extensions so you can cover most of the needs of GDPR.

Final Point

For all e-commerce businesses, customers’ personal information is a valuable source for personalized experience enhancement and marketing activities. In fact, GDPR will not stop you from gathering this important information but doing it with transparency and client respect. Moreover, if your store apply the privacy policies strictly, you will definitely achieve more trust from your clients.

At Magesolution, we have already assisted many online stores to comply with GDPR. In addition, we are a full-service web design and development company specializing in designing and developing awesome, powerful websites that deliver results for businesses in an array of industries. From website development service to maintenance & support services, no matter what your needs are, our Magento Development Packages will all provide you the most effective solution to help your online business grow and sustain. With over 14 years of experience, we came to giving solutions to over 1,000 happy clients. Contact us for a free consultation!