What are the best practices for obtaining and managing consent from web visitors?

1 What is consent under the GDPR?

Consent is one of the legal bases that you can use to process personal data under the GDPR. According to the regulation, consent means "any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her". In other words, you have to ask your web visitors for permission to collect and use their data in a clear and transparent way, and they have to actively agree to it.

2 How to obtain consent from web visitors?

To obtain valid consent from your web visitors, you have to follow some principles and requirements. First, you have to provide them with a clear and concise privacy notice that explains what data you collect, why you collect it, how you process it, who you share it with, and what rights they have. You also have to inform them about the purpose and legal basis of each processing activity, and how they can withdraw their consent at any time. Second, you have to ask for consent before you start collecting or processing any data, and you have to use a separate and prominent consent request that is not bundled with other terms or conditions. Third, you have to make sure that your consent request is specific and granular, meaning that you have to ask for separate consent for different types of data or processing purposes, and give your web visitors the option to choose what they agree to. Fourth, you have to ensure that your consent request is unambiguous and affirmative, meaning that you have to use clear and plain language, and avoid pre-ticked boxes, silence, or inactivity as forms of consent.

3 How to manage consent from web visitors?

Once you have obtained consent from your web visitors, you have to keep track of it and respect it. This means that you have to store and document when, how, and what consent was given, and update it if there are any changes in your data processing activities or privacy notice. You also have to honor the rights of your web visitors, such as the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, or port their data, and the right to object or withdraw their consent at any time. To facilitate this, you have to provide them with easy and accessible ways to exercise their rights, such as a preference center, a contact form, or a cookie manager.

4 How to use content management systems for GDPR compliance?

Content management systems (CMS) are software applications that allow you to create, manage, and publish web content. They can also help you with GDPR compliance, as they often have features and tools that can assist you with obtaining and managing consent from web visitors. For example, some CMS can generate and display privacy notices, consent requests, and cookie banners on your website, and allow you to customize and update them as needed. Some CMS can also record and store consent information, and enable you to export or delete data upon request. However, not all CMS are equally compliant, so you have to choose one that meets the GDPR standards and requirements, and configure it properly according to your data processing activities and purposes.

5 What are the benefits of GDPR compliance for web content protection?

Complying with the GDPR is not only a legal obligation, but also a good practice for web content protection. By following the GDPR principles and rules, you can enhance the trust and loyalty of your web visitors, as they will appreciate your transparency and respect for their privacy and rights. You can also improve the quality and relevance of your web content, as you will only collect and use data that is necessary and beneficial for your web visitors and your business goals. Furthermore, you can reduce the risks and costs of data breaches, fines, or lawsuits, as you will have better security and accountability measures in place.