As privacy laws change and new laws come into effect, Termly continues to improve and keep your privacy policy up to date. We want to be as transparent as possible about any updates or new offerings we make to the Privacy Policy Generator.


These changes will only come into effect after you have republished your policy through Termly's Dashboard.


Release Date: 2/23/2023

  1. New Section

    Name Your Policy


Purpose

General Improvement


Summary

Option to customize the title of your privacy policy.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

The title at the top of your privacy policy will reflect the name you choose.

Release Date: 1/18/2023

  1. New Section

    Virginia (USA) Users


Purpose

Legal


Summary

Customers have the option to add a Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) notice to their Privacy Policy. Please check the FAQ on the new page to see if you are required to comply with the CDPA. If you are required to comply, you must specify whether or not you sell personal data of Virginia consumers.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

A new section, “DO VIRGINIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?,” will be added to your Privacy Policy. The new section will include general definitions under the CDPA, rights users have under the CDPA and how they can exercise those rights, and whether or not you sell personal data of Virginia consumers.


  1. Updated Section

    Privacy Email


Purpose

Legal


Summary

Customers who wish to be CDPA compliant must provide an email address for appeals. Under the CDPA, Virginia consumers have rights to request information about their personal data from a business. If the business denies the consumer’s request, the consumer can appeal the business’ decision.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

The email address for appeals will be included In the section, “DO VIRGINIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?.”

Release Date: 12/31/2022

  1. Updated Section

    Third Parties


Purpose

Legal


Summary

For customers who are CCPA compliant, the option for “Disclose and sell” has been updated to be “Disclose and sell/share.” The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) introduces the term “share,” along with new requirements around the sharing of personal information effective January 1, 2023.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

If you sell personal information, under the section, “DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?,” anywhere that mentions “sell” will be updated to “sell or share.”


  1. Updated Section

    Disclosure to Third Parties


Purpose

Legal


Summary

Customers who want to list the names of third parties they disclose personal information to, can now select which third parties they share personal information with.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

Under the section, “DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?,” your Privacy Policy will list the names of third parties you share personal information with.


  1. New Section

    Share with Third Parties


Purpose

Legal


Summary

Customers who want to list the categories of third parties they disclose personal information to, can now select which categories of third parties they share personal information with.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

Under the section, “DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?,” your Privacy Policy will list the categories of third parties you share personal information with.


  1. Updated Sections

    California Customer Records Personal Information

    Identifiers

    Characteristics

    Consumer Data

    Biometric Data

    Internet Activity

    Geolocation Data

    Sensory Data

    Professional and Employment Data

    Education Information

    Inferences


Purpose

Legal


Summary

For each category of personal information under the CCPA, businesses must now specify how long they will retain the personal information. A new question will appear on each category of personal information page about retention period. Customers can select one of the given options or add their own.

How will this affect my privacy policy?

Under the section, “DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?,” your Privacy Policy will list the retention period of each category of personal information you collect.


  1. New Section

    Sensitive Personal Information Under the CCPA


Purpose

Legal


Summary

For customers who are CCPA compliant and collect sensitive personal information, specify which sensitive personal information under the CCPA you collect and for how long you will keep it. You may also be asked if you disclose or sell/share sensitive personal information under the CCPA.

How will this affect my privacy policy?

Under the section, “DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?,” your Privacy Policy will specify whether or not you collect, disclose, or sell/share sensitive personal information under the CCPA. If you do collect sensitive personal information under the CCPA, your Privacy Policy will include new language about how long you retain the information and the rights users have pertaining to sensitive personal information.

Release Date: 7/29/2022

  1. New Section

    California Customer Records Personal Information


Purpose

Legal


Summary

For customers who want to be CCPA compliant, a new question will appear under the “CCPA Considerations” section of the generator about whether or not you collect, disclose, or sell personal information listed in the California Customer Records statute. Any personal information listed in the California Customer Records statue (Cal. Civ. Code §1798.80(e)) is considered personal information under the CCPA.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

Under the section, “DO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?,” your Privacy Policy will state whether or not you collect, disclose, or sell personal information listed in the California Customer Records statute, also known as “Category B” of personal information under the CCPA.


  1. Updated Sections

    EEA Representative Address

    UK Representative Address

    DPO Address

    Corporate Address


Purpose

General Improvement


Summary

All address fields include the option to choose United Kingdom nations and overseas territories.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

Under the section, “HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?,” any update to mailing addresses will be reflected there.

Release Date: 5/3/2022

  1. Updated Section

    English Preference


Purpose

General Improvement


Summary

Customers now have the option to use American English spelling or British English spelling in their privacy policy. 

How will this affect my privacy policy?

Depending on what you select, your privacy policy will either use American English spelling or British English spelling. This includes minor punctuation changes.

Release Date: 2/22/2022

  1. Updated Section

    User Location


Purpose

Legal


Summary

Termly’s Privacy Policy Generator has been updated to include elements required for your Privacy Policy under Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and substantially similar provincial privacy laws in British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta. To update your policy to include requirements for these laws, select “Yes” ' to the new question about Canadian users


How will this affect my privacy policy?

A summary of your Privacy Policy will be included at the beginning of your policy. Your Privacy Policy will also include a new section titled, “WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?” This new section will include information about when your business may process a user’s personal information and the special cases when your business may legally process the information without a user’s consent.


  1. Updated Section

    Use of Information


Purpose

Legal


Summary

This section applies to customers who do not have EU/UK users. This section now allows for more customization about how you use the personal information collected from users. If you have already created a Privacy Policy, we suggest you return to this page and reselect your uses of personal information.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

Your new customized selections will be listed under the “HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?” section.


  1. Updated Section

    Marketing and Promotional Communications


Purpose

General Improvement


Summary

By default, Termly adds "Contact us using the contact information provided by us" as an additional option for your users to opt out of marketing or promotional communications. Customers who send marketing or promotional communications to their users should revisit this section and confirm how users can opt out. 


How will this affect my privacy policy?

Details about how users can opt out of marketing and promotional communications will be listed under the “WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?” section.


  1. Updated Section

    Sensitive Information


Purpose

Legal


Summary

Customers can specify sensitive information they collect from their users. Listing sensitive information that you collect is required if you have users in the EEA, UK, or Canada.

How will this affect my privacy policy?

A new section in your Privacy Policy will list the sensitive information to be more clear for your users to read. The new section is called “Sensitive Information” and is found under “WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?” Previously the sensitive information you collect was listed with other personal data and harder to find. 


  1. Updated Section

    Legal Basis: provision of Services / Performance of a Contract
    Legal Basis: Legitimate Interests


Purpose

Legal


Summary

These two new sections apply to customers who have EU/UK users. Previously, customers were asked to broadly select how their business uses the personal information they collect. However, the EU and UK GDPR requires that you explain more specifically how you use the personal information and requires valid reasons for using personal information — also known as “lawful basis.” To comply with the GDPR, we will ask customers about 1) how you specifically use the personal information collected from your users, and 2) if you rely on your business’ legitimate interests to use the personal information.  

How will this affect my privacy policy?

Your Privacy Policy will list the uses of personal information you select in the builder under the “HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?” section. Your Privacy Policy will also have a new section titled, “WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?”. Under this section, Termly will include a list of common legal bases that apply to most companies: 1) Consent (2) Performance of a Contract (3) Legitimate Interests (4) Legal Obligation (5) Vital Interests.


  1. Updated Section

    Account Consent Preferences

Purpose

Legal


Summary

This new section applies to customers who have EU/UK users and allow their users to create an account with their website or app. Under the GDPR, EU and/or UK users have the right to revoke consent to processing at any time.  

How will this affect my privacy policy?

Details about how users can opt out of marketing and promotional communications will be listed under the “WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?” section.


  1. Other

    We have made the following changes to your Privacy Policy to make it simpler and clearer for your users.


Purpose

General


Summary

We removed unnecessary language about third-party advertisers that are affiliated with you. Termly covers all cookie-related data processing in the Cookie Policy and consent manager banner. Therefore, the language around advertising cookies is not necessary in the Privacy Policy. 

How will this affect my privacy policy?

Third-party advertisers will no longer be listed as a third party you share personal information with. 

Release Date: 9/21/2021

  1. Updated Section

    GDPR Considerations


Purpose

Legal


Summary

Customers can include their UK representative's contact details. 

How will this affect my privacy policy?

Your UK representative's information will be included at the bottom of your Privacy Policy.

Release Date: 9/20/2021

  1. Updated Section

Collection of Information

 

Purpose

General improvement


Summary

We have restructured our generator so that all customers must answer questions about the personal information they collect.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

If you previously said that you do not collect your users' personal information, please go through the generator again and make sure you answer all the new questions before you republish your Privacy Policy.

Release Date: 8/2/2021

  1. Updated Section

Privacy Policy Uses

 

Purpose

Legal


Summary

Customers who are using the Privacy Policy for their mobile or Facebook app may now add the name of their mobile or Facebook app.


How will this affect my privacy policy?

The introduction of your Privacy Policy will include the name of your mobile or Facebook app.