Why every site needs a privacy policy link
GDPR and most ad platforms require a reachable privacy policy. Link it from every page, usually in the footer.
Step by step, with screenshots: Privacy policy and contact links: the trust signals a report checks →
Check your own site
Runs this check and the other 192, free, in about 45 seconds.
Or run only this check with the free Cookie scanner (GDPR consent).
What it is
A privacy policy is a page that explains what personal data your website collects, why, on what legal basis, who you share it with, how long you keep it and how visitors can exercise their rights. Under the GDPR it is the privacy notice you must give people when you collect their data.
Almost every site collects some personal data: contact forms, newsletter sign-ups, analytics, embedded videos and server logs all count. Beyond the law, Google Ads, AdSense, app stores and payment providers require a reachable privacy policy, and many people check for one before filling in a form.
OK looks like this: a Privacy policy link in the footer of every page, leading to a page that matches what the site actually collects. getReport checks the page for a link to a privacy policy.
What a passing site looks like
- The page links to a privacy policywarning · −1 ptseffort S
No link to a privacy policy
Why it matters. GDPR requires a privacy notice that visitors can reach from every page, and people look for it before submitting a form.
- Add a "Privacy policy" link in the footer of every page that goes to a page explaining what data you collect and why.
Questions people ask
What should a privacy policy for a website include?
Who you are and how to contact you, what personal data you collect and from where, why and on what legal basis, which tools and processors receive it, whether it leaves the country, how long you keep it, which rights visitors have and how to use them, and how cookies are handled. Keep it specific to your site.
What is a privacy policy for a website?
It is a public page that tells visitors how the website collects, uses, shares and protects their personal information, and what choices they have. It is a legal requirement in the EU, the UK, California and many other places, and a basic trust signal everywhere.
Does my website need a privacy policy?
Almost certainly. If the site has a contact form, newsletter, shop, analytics, embedded third-party content or keeps server logs, it processes personal data and needs a privacy notice under laws such as the GDPR. Advertising and analytics platforms also require one in their terms.
How do you write a privacy policy for your website?
List everything that collects data on your site, such as forms, analytics, ads, embeds and your host. For each, note what is collected, why, how long it is kept and who receives it. Then write it in plain language using that list, or adapt a reputable generator's template, and review it when you add tools.