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How Do I Make My Shopify GDPR Compliant?

Last updated on January 11, 2023 @ 8:15 pm

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new EU data protection law that came into effect on May 25, 2018. The GDPR replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive.

It strengthens EU data protection rules by giving individuals more control over their personal data, and establishing new rights for individuals.

The GDPR applies to any company that processes the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the company is located. If your company processes the personal data of EU citizens, you must comply with the GDPR.

There are two key concepts in the GDPR:

  • Lawfulness, fairness and transparency: You must have a legal basis for collecting and processing personal data. The personal data you collect must be accurate and up-to-date.
    You must be transparent about how you use personal data.
  • Purpose limitation: You can only collect and process personal data for specific, explicit and legitimate purposes. You cannot use personal data for any other purpose.

To make your Shopify store GDPR compliant, you need to take the following steps:

  1. Update your privacy policy:
  2. Your privacy policy must include certain information required by the GDPR, such as your contact information and a description of the rights of individuals under the GDPR. You can use Shopify’s privacy policy generator to create a privacy policy that meets the requirements of the GDPR.

  3. Get consent from customers:
  4. If you collect, process or store personal data, you must get explicit consent from customers before you can do so. Consent must be freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous. You cannot assume that customers have consented to the processing of their personal data just because they have not objected.

  5. Allow customers to access their personal data:
  6. Customers have the right to access their personal data at any time. This includes the right to know what personal data you have collected about them, why you have collected it and how you are using it.

  7. Allow customers to delete their personal data:
  8. Customers have the right to delete their personal data at any time. This includes the right to have their personal data erased from your records and any third-party records.

  9. Handle customer requests promptly:
  10. You must respond to customer requests promptly and in a timely manner. If you do not respond to a customer request within 30 days, you are considered to be in violation of the GDPR.

These steps will help make your Shopify store GDPR compliant.

PRO TIP: If you are planning to make your Shopify store GDPR compliant, be aware that there are a few important steps you need to take. First, you need to make sure that all personal data collected from customers is securely stored and processed. Second, you need to provide customers with a clear and concise privacy policy that explains how their data will be used. Lastly, you need to give customers the ability to opt-out of data collection at any time. Failure to take these steps could result in hefty fines from the European Union.
Drew Clemente

Drew Clemente

Devops & Sysadmin engineer. I basically build infrastructure online.