I’ve helped WordPress users navigate a lot of different privacy laws, but Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) still surprises many website owners.

If your site collects personal information from people in Saudi Arabia (and it probably does), then PDPL compliance isn’t optional.

Contact forms, newsletter signups, user accounts, blog comments — all of these fall under the law’s requirements, even if you don’t live in Saudi Arabia.

I hear from readers all the time who didn’t realize this until they were at risk of penalties.

The good news? Getting compliant doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

I’ve spent quite a lot of time researching the PDPL and testing WordPress tools to make this guide as beginner-friendly as possible. I’ll show you exactly how to protect your business, stay on the right side of the law, and earn your audience’s trust.

What Is the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)?

Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) is a privacy law that protects the personal information of people living in Saudi Arabia. It sets clear rules for how businesses collect, use, and store that data.

Like other privacy laws — including the GDPR — the PDPL doesn’t just apply to local businesses. It can affect websites, blogs, and online stores around the world.

The key factor is whether your site handles data from people in Saudi Arabia. If your audience is global, then there’s a good chance the PDPL applies to you.

That’s why it’s important to understand what this law covers and what steps you can take to stay compliant.

Why WordPress Users Should Care About PDPL Compliance

Not following the PDPL can lead to serious consequences. Fines can reach up to SAR 5 million (about $1.3 million USD) per violation. That amount can double for repeat offenses.

If you unlawfully share sensitive data, especially with the intent to harm someone, the penalties are even more severe. You could face up to two years in prison and fines of SAR 3 million (around $800,000 USD).

But PDPL compliance isn’t just about avoiding legal trouble — it’s also about trust.

When you give visitors more control over their personal data, you show that your site respects their privacy. Over time, building trust can get you more signups, conversions, and sales, helping to grow your online business.

By contrast, failing to comply with PDPL can really damage your reputation.

And remember, the PDPL might apply to you even if you don’t live in Saudi Arabia. Just like GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), it’s based on whose data you collect, not where you’re located.

With all that said, almost all WordPress users should care about PDPL compliance.

How PDPL Affects Your WordPress Site

The first step to PDPL compliance is understanding what counts as personal data.

That includes anything that can identify someone, such as their name, email address, IP address, physical address, or even their browsing history through cookies.

As a WordPress site owner, here are some of the key rights and responsibilities you need to know:

• Right to Be Informed: You must clearly tell visitors what data you collect, how you use it, and whether you share it with third parties. This info should be easy to find — don’t make people dig through your site to locate it.
• Right to Access: Users can request a copy of the personal information you’ve collected about them.
• Right to Correction: If someone’s data is inaccurate or incomplete, they have the right to ask you to update it.
• Right to Delete: People can ask you to delete their personal data.
• Right to Object: Users can say no to how you’re using their personal information.
• Right to Data Portability: Individuals can request their data in a machine-readable format and transfer it to another service.

Throughout this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to support these rights using simple tools and beginner-friendly tips.

Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance for WordPress Websites

Navigating compliance can feel overwhelming, especially when the stakes include damaged reputations, steep fines, or even jail time.

But at its core, the PDPL is about being clear and transparent with your users. It’s all about giving people control over how you collect and use their personal information.

With that in mind, let’s walk through the steps you can take to meet the PDPL’s requirements.

Perform Regular Data Audits

The first step to PDPL compliance is knowing what personal data you collect and how you handle it. That means doing a full data audit of your WordPress site.

A good audit shows whether your current practices match PDPL rules — and where you may need to make changes.

To help you get started, here are some key questions to ask:

• What personal data do I collect? This could include names, email addresses, IP addresses, payment details, and more.
• How do I use this data? Look at how you process information, whether you share it with team members or third-party tools like ad networks or email services.
• Do I really need this data? If you’re collecting something you don’t actually use, then it’s better to stop.
• How secure is it? Review your WordPress security, check who has access, and consider using security plugins to add extra protection.

After the audit, be sure to write down your findings. Keep a record of what you collect, how you use it, and what steps you’ve taken to stay compliant.

This documentation helps prove you’re serious about privacy, which is important if you’re ever audited or asked to explain your practices.

As a general rule, it’s smart to do a new audit at least once a year. You should also review your data handling anytime you change how your site collects or uses personal information.

And since privacy laws can change, it’s a good idea to re-check everything whenever the PDPL is updated.

Collect Less Data 

Once you’ve reviewed the data you collect, the next step is to ask: Do I really need all of it?

The PDPL says you should only collect data that’s relevant, necessary, and tied to a specific purpose. That means no gathering extra information just in case you might need it later.

If something isn’t essential, then you should stop collecting it.

This principle is called data minimization, and it’s not just about compliance. It also makes your life easier.

When you collect less data, it’s simpler to stay organized and respond to user requests. For example, if someone asks you to delete their data or send them a copy, you’ll have less to dig through.

So, as you go through your forms and plugins, look for anything you can remove or simplify.

Create a Privacy Policy 

Your privacy policy is where you explain what personal data you collect, how you use it, and who you share it with. Think of it as your website’s promise to be transparent with visitors.

Under the PDPL, having a clear and accessible privacy policy isn’t optional — it’s required.

The good news is that WordPress comes with a built-in privacy policy generator. You can use it as a starting point and customize it for your site.

You can also check out the WPBeginner privacy policy as an example.

If you use our template, make sure to replace all mentions of WPBeginner with your own blog or business website.

We also have a complete step-by-step guide on how to add a privacy policy in WordPress if you need help getting started.

If you already have a privacy policy, now’s the time to update it. Make sure it includes your users’ PDPL rights, like the Right to Be Informed and Right to Access, along with clear instructions for how they can exercise those rights.

For example, you could link to a form where users can request a copy of their data, or show them how to ask for deletion.

And don’t forget to review your privacy policy regularly to keep it accurate as your site grows and evolves.

Add a Cookie Popup

Under the PDPL, you must get explicit consent before placing cookies that collect personal data, except for cookies that are strictly necessary.

This means you need to let visitors know about your cookie practices and get their clear consent before using non-essential cookies.

The best way to do this is by adding a cookie popup to your WordPress website.

A well-designed popup helps you support key PDPL rights, starting with the Right to Be Informed. It clearly tells users what types of cookies you use, what data those cookies collect, and why you’re collecting it.

Your popup can also support the Right to Object. Users can simply click ‘Reject’ to refuse non-essential cookies without digging through settings.

There are lots of cookie banner plugins out there, but I recommend using WPConsent. It’s a powerful WordPress privacy plugin built to help you meet PDPL, GDPR, and similar privacy standards.

In fact, we use WPConsent on all our websites, including WPBeginner. It’s easy to set up and handles cookie banners, consent logs, and more.

To get started, install and activate the WPConsent plugin like you would with any WordPress plugin.

WPConsent will automatically scan your site and list all the cookies it finds.

From there, the setup wizard helps you customize your popup. As you make changes, you’ll see a live preview so you know exactly how it will look on your site.

You can adjust the layout, position, font size, button style, colors, and even add your own logo.

Once you’re happy with the design, just save your changes. The cookie banner will now appear on your site and begin collecting consent from your visitors.

Create a Dedicated Cookie Policy 

In addition to using a cookie popup, I also recommend creating a separate cookie policy page. This gives you a clear place to explain exactly how your site uses cookies and what kind of data you collect through them.

By writing a dedicated policy, you’re supporting the PDPL’s Right to Be Informed and building trust with your visitors.

Your cookie policy should list the different types of cookies your site uses, such as essential, analytics, or marketing cookies. You can also describe what these cookies do, like tracking your visitors or showing personalized ads.

I also suggest explaining what kind of personal information these cookies collect. That could include IP addresses, browsing behavior, or referral URLs.

Try to avoid technical jargon. Instead, use simple, clear language so anyone can understand your policy.

If you’re using WPConsent, you’re in luck. The plugin can automatically generate a detailed cookie policy for you. Just go to WPConsent » Settings and choose the page where you want the policy to appear.

WPConsent will create the content for you, based on the cookies it found during the scan.

You can then display this content using a shortcode on your selected page.

Once the policy is live, make sure visitors can find it. I recommend adding a link in your website footer or right inside your privacy policy.

You can also include a link in your cookie popup so that people can read the full policy before choosing their cookie preferences.

If you created your popup with WPConsent, the link is already built in. When someone clicks the ‘Preferences’ button, they’ll see a link to your cookie policy.

Then, they’ll need to select the ‘Cookie Policy’ link. 

And that’s it! WPConsent will take them straight to the right page.

Block Third-Party Scripts 

One of the trickiest parts of PDPL compliance is dealing with third-party tracking tools. I’m talking about services like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.

These tools often collect personal data, such as IP addresses, location info, or behavior across pages. That means they fall under the PDPL, and you need to get consent before loading their scripts.

That’s why I recommend setting up automatic script blocking. This keeps those scripts from running until a visitor has clearly opted in.

If you’re using WPConsent, then you’re already covered. It comes with automatic script blocking built right in.

Behind the scenes, it detects and pauses common tracking scripts like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel — without breaking your website.

Track and Log Visitor Consent

Websites need to collect and log cookie consent data to comply with privacy laws and be able to prove that they obtained valid consent from users. This comes in handy in case of audits, complaints, or legal investigations.

This practice of logging visitor consent protects your business, helps build trust with your visitors, and also provides solid evidence that you’re complying with the PDPL.

If you’re using WPConsent, the plugin takes care of this for you. It automatically logs each consent event along with key details like the visitor’s IP address, what they agreed to, and the date and time.

You can see all this information right in your WordPress dashboard. Just go to WPConsent » Consent Logs.

Then, if you ever need to share the log with a legal team or an auditor, you can export the data directly from your dashboard.

Allow Users to Withdraw Consent 

The PDPL states that people have the right to change their minds and withdraw consent at any time. To stay compliant, you need to give your visitors a simple and visible way to do that on your website.

I recommend using WPConsent’s Do Not Track add-on. It lets you create a dedicated ‘Do Not Track’ page in just a few clicks.

Once you install the add-on, just go to WPConsent » Do Not Track » Configuration to set up your form.

Visitors can then go to this page and fill out a short form to withdraw their consent.
It’s quick, user-friendly, and shows that you respect their privacy choices.

After setup, you can choose the page where this form appears, and WPConsent will handle the rest behind the scenes.

WPConsent also stores all these requests directly in your WordPress database. That means you stay in control of the data and don’t have to rely on third-party services to track user consent changes.

Plus, the plugin logs every request automatically. So if you’re ever audited, you’ll have clear documentation showing that you honored your visitors’ decisions.

Alternatively, you can use WPForms to create a data deletion form on your site. Unlike WPConsent, WPForms lets you fully customize the form the way you want.

It also comes with a dedicated ‘Right to Erasure Request Form’ template. This template gives you a solid foundation, so you can add this crucial form to your site quickly and easily. This directly addresses the ‘Right to Delete’ I mentioned earlier.

You can customize this template in WPForms’ drag-and-drop editor, which makes it easy to add, remove, and edit fields.

When you’re happy with the form, you can add it to your site using either a shortcode or the WPForms block.

After adding the form to your site, you need to make it easy for visitors to find. For example, you can link to the form from your privacy policy page, or even embed it directly there.

You can also put a link in your website’s footer. The goal is simple: make it easily accessible to your website visitors.

Next, you will need to review any user requests for data deletion.

Luckily, WPForms isn’t just a form builder. It also comes with a powerful entry management system that makes it easy to track form submissions.

To review your entries, simply head over to WPForms » Entries. Here, you’ll see a list of all the forms across your WordPress website.

Simply find your data erasure form and click it.

You’ll now see all your ‘delete data’ requests.

So, what happens when you spot a new deletion request?

The good news is that WordPress itself comes with a built-in Erase Personal Data tool. This tool lets you erase all the user’s personal information, so you don’t need to install any extra WordPress plugins.

Just head over to Tools » Erase Personal Data to access this tool.

In the ‘Username or email address’ field, you need to type in the user’s information you want to remove.

This tool even has a handy ‘Send personal data erasure confirmation email’ setting. This will automatically let the user know that you’ve completed their request, keeping them informed and building more trust.

Handle Data Access Requests Efficiently

Under the PDPL, visitors have the right to ask for a copy of all the personal information you’ve collected about them. Thankfully, you can handle these ‘data access requests’ in pretty much the same way as the ‘data deletion’ requests we just explored.

The easiest way to support this is by adding a request form to your site. I recommend using WPForms, which includes a ready-made Data Request template.

Just select the template and customize it in the drag-and-drop editor. You can easily adjust the fields as needed to collect the information you need to fulfill each request.

Once the form is live, WPForms will log each submission inside your WordPress dashboard. That way, you can respond quickly when a new request comes in.

To view entries, go to WPForms » Entries and select your data request form.

You’ll now see all the entries submitted through this form.

When you get a new request, you can fulfill it using WordPress’ built-in Export Personal Data tool. This lets you export all the known data for any user, packaged conveniently in a .zip file.

To create this .zip, just head over to Tools » Export Personal Data.

Just enter the user’s email or username, and WordPress will generate a downloadable file with all the personal data you’ve collected.

Once it’s ready, you can send the zip file directly to the person who requested it.

Support the ‘Right to Correction’

The PDPL also gives users the right to ask you to fix or update their personal information if something is wrong or incomplete.

This might happen after someone reviews their data and spots a mistake. Or maybe they’ve moved or changed their phone number and want you to update their profile.

Once again, the easiest way to accept these requests is by adding a dedicated form to your site.

I recommend WPForms for this, too. It includes a Personal Information Form template that works great for correction requests.

This form comes with many essential fields already built in, such as legal name, preferred nickname, email address, home phone, and cell phone. 

The template even includes an “Update Existing Record” checkbox, so users can let you know they’re submitting a change to their existing profile.

However, every website stores different information, so you may want to customize the form to collect other details. In that case, simply open the template in the WPForms editor and then add more fields to the form using drag and drop.

You can then fine-tune these fields using the left-hand panel. Just repeat these steps until the form collects all the information users might want to edit.

Once you’re done, go ahead and publish the form on your site like you would with any other form.

Make sure users can find this form easily. I usually link to it from the privacy policy or place it in the footer so it’s always accessible.

As always, WPForms displays all submitted form entries directly in your WordPress dashboard. This makes it easy to spot data correction requests as soon as they arrive, so you can act on them quickly.

How you update this information may vary depending on the tools you’re using. For example, you might need to update a record in your customer relationship management (CRM) app or email management software.

If the information is stored directly in WordPress, then you may just need to go to Users » All Users in your WordPress dashboard.

Here, find the user profile you need to update and click its ‘Edit’ link.

You’ll now see all the essential information WordPress has stored for that user.

From here, you can make any necessary changes and save the user’s updated profile.

WordPress and PDPL Compliance: FAQs

Understanding online privacy can be a big challenge. So, you might still have some questions about how the PDPL affects your WordPress website.

But don’t worry! At WPBeginner, we’re here to help you understand this important privacy law.

In this section, I’ll cover the most common questions we get asked about PDPL compliance, so  you can get the answers you need.

What happens if my website is not PDPL compliant?

If your website doesn’t comply with the PDPL, you could face serious consequences. That includes large fines, which may reach millions of Saudi Riyals. In severe cases, criminal charges like imprisonment may also apply.

Beyond the legal and financial risks, breaching the PDPL can seriously harm your organization’s reputation. If you don’t seem to care about user privacy, then your audience will quickly notice. When that happens, they will stop trusting you and will almost certainly take their business or readership elsewhere.

Does the PDPL only apply to businesses in Saudi Arabia?

No, the PDPL doesn’t just apply to Saudi-based businesses. If your website collects personal data from someone living in Saudi Arabia, then you’re required to follow the PDPL, even if your business is located elsewhere.

How can I balance user experience with PDPL compliance?

Following the PDPL doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the user experience. In fact, giving visitors control over their data is a key part of good UX.

Here’s how I recommend balancing both:

• Show a clear cookie popup that explains how you use cookies in simple terms.
• Write a privacy policy that’s easy to read and free of legal jargon.
• Add forms that let users request their data or ask for it to be deleted, so they feel respected and in control.

Are there any exemptions to the PDPL for small websites?

The PDPL generally applies to any website that collects or processes personal data from users in Saudi Arabia, no matter the size. That means most WordPress site owners need to follow it.

There may be exceptions in very specific cases, but these aren’t always clear. If you’re unsure whether the PDPL applies to you, I recommend talking to a legal expert.

What are the key steps I should take to comply with the PDPL?

Every site is different, but here are the basics I always recommend:

• Create clear privacy and cookie policies that explain your practices in plain, user-friendly language.
• Run regular data audits to understand what personal data you collect, where it’s stored, and who can access it.
• Ask for clear, explicit consent before collecting data, and give users a way to withdraw it. A cookie popup can help with this.

By putting these measures into practice, your website will be much closer to meeting the PDPL’s core requirements. 

Additional Resources

Keeping your WordPress site perfectly aligned with the PDPL isn’t a one-time task. In fact, it’s something that needs your ongoing attention. 

To help you continue on this journey, here are some helpful resources you can check out:

• Saudi Arabia’s National Data Management Office – Get the latest information and updates about the PDPL.
• How to Know if Your WordPress Website Uses Cookies
• How to Keep Personally Identifiable Info Out of Google Analytics
• How to Make Google Fonts Privacy Friendly
• How to Stop Storing IP Addresses in WordPress Comments

I hope this beginner’s guide to PDPL compliance for WordPress websites has helped you understand this important privacy law. Next, you may want to see our expert picks for the best GDPR plugins to improve compliance or our guide on how to perform a security audit.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance for WordPress Websites first appeared on WPBeginner.

When I launched my first WordPress website, I wasn’t thinking about privacy laws. Like most beginners, I was focused on creating helpful content and getting more traffic.

But times have changed. Now, I hear from many small business owners who are worried about data privacy. Laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) sound intimidating, and with fines reaching $7,500 per violation, it’s easy to see why.

If you’ve felt that same pressure, you’re not alone. Trying to stay compliant while growing your website can feel overwhelming.

That’s exactly why I put this guide together. I’ll walk you through a beginner-friendly, step-by-step plan to help you meet CCPA requirements without getting lost in legal jargon. You’ll learn what data your site collects, how to manage it properly, and which tools can help you stay compliant.

What is the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)? 

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California residents have the right to control how companies collect and use their personal information.

It’s also important to know that the CCPA’s definition of ‘personal information’ is very broad. It includes things like names, email addresses, browsing history, and even biometric data. 

Just like other privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), CCPA doesn’t just affect businesses based in California.

It can actually affect many WordPress websites, blogs, and organizations all over the world. If you handle data related to people living in California, then the CCPA may apply to you, regardless of your location.

Now, before you start to worry, it’s important to know that the CCPA doesn’t apply to every single website. It’s mainly aimed at larger businesses.

Generally, your for-profit business needs to comply with the CCPA if it meets one or more of these conditions:

• Has an annual gross revenue of over $25 million.
• Buys, sells, or shares the personal information of 100,000 or more California residents or households per year.
• Gets 50% or more of its annual revenue from selling or sharing California residents’ personal information.

Does your website or business meet these criteria? Then it’s absolutely essential you understand what the CCPA is and what it requires.

Why Should WordPress Users Care About CCPA Compliance?

Ignoring the CCPA can have some pretty serious consequences, including large fines. For example, if you intentionally breach this law, you could be fined as much as $7,500 per violation. 

Even if you break the rules by mistake, the consequences can still be tough. Non-intentional CCPA violations can cost you up to $2,500 per incident. So, even an accident can lead to huge financial penalties.

Plus, complying with the CCPA is about more than just avoiding fines. By giving visitors more control over their personal information, you’re proving that you’re trustworthy. This can get you more signups, conversions, and sales, helping to grow your online business.

By contrast, breaking the CCPA can really hurt your reputation, even if the violation was a complete accident. 

How CCPA Affects Your WordPress Site

CCPA compliance is a big topic, but as a broad overview, there are three core principles that will affect you as a WordPress blog or website owner: 

• The Right to Know: Users can ask what personal data you collect about them.
• The Right to Delete: Users can ask you to delete their personal data.
• The Right to Opt-Out: Users can tell you not to sell their personal information to other companies. 

In this ultimate guide, I will share many tips, techniques, and tools to help you comply with each of these core CCPA principles.

How to Improve Your CCPA Compliance in WordPress

Navigating CCPA compliance can feel like a complex task. But at its core, it’s really all about being clear and open with your users. You also need to give them ways to control how (and if) you collect and use their personal information.

I can’t guarantee that these are the only steps you’ll need to take, but following this guide will put you on the right path to compliance.

That said, let’s get started! You can click the links below to jump ahead to any section:

Perform a Data Audit

As with most data compliance laws, the first step is to identify and document all the different types of personal data you collect, process, and store. This means performing a complete data audit of your website.

I recommend starting by listing all the WordPress plugins and tools that gather data on your site, such as analytics plugins, form builders, and SEO plugins.

You can then carefully evaluate how each one handles user information.

For example, if you’ve created a quote request form on your website, then your form builder plugin might collect the visitor’s name, company name, and job title.

To go a bit deeper, try asking yourself these questions for each tool:

• What specific personal data does it collect? This might be names, email addresses, IP addresses, payment details, or any other form of personal information.   
• Where is this data stored? Is it stored locally on your server or sent to a third-party service? 
• Why is this data being collected? Is it essential, or non-essential? And how are you using that data? 
• How long is this data kept? Do you have a data retention policy for it?
• Is this data shared with anyone? In particular, are there any service providers or advertisers involved? 

This may immediately reveal areas where you need to adjust your data handling practices to comply with CCPA. This could involve changing what data you collect, how long you keep it, or who you share that information with.

Collect Less Data 

There’s an easy way to protect your users’ privacy: avoid collecting information you don’t actually need. This is called data minimization. 

It means you only gather the information that’s absolutely essential for your site to work properly. By doing this, you instantly make CCPA compliance much simpler. 

After performing a data audit, I recommend looking critically at all the data you currently collect. Do you really need every piece of information you ask for? 

Data minimization also plays a big part in building trust with your audience. By not asking intrusive questions or gathering unnecessary personal details, you clearly demonstrate that you respect their privacy. This, in turn, will make users feel more confident and comfortable interacting with your website.

Create a Privacy Policy 

A privacy policy is a page that clearly explains what personal data you collect, how you use it, and who you share that information with.

Creating a detailed and comprehensive privacy policy is essential for CCPA compliance, as it helps visitors understand how you collect, store, and use their personal information. 

The good news is that WordPress comes with a built-in privacy policy generator that you can use to get started by going to Settings » Privacy in your WordPress dashboard.

Alternatively, you can always refer to our WPBeginner privacy policy page as a strong starting point.

If you use our template, then just remember to replace all references to WPBeginner with the name of your business website or blog. 

We also have a complete, step-by-step guide on how to add a privacy policy in WordPress. 

Do you already have a privacy policy in place? Then I still recommend updating it with specific information about the CCPA. In particular, you’ll need to explain your users’ rights under the CCPA, such as their Right to Know, Right to Delete, and Right to Opt-Out.

Even more importantly, you must clearly tell visitors how to exercise their CCPA rights.

For example, you could link to a contact form where they can ask for a copy of their data (their Right to Know). Alternatively, you might show them how to request that you delete all their personal information (their Right to Delete). 

Finally, it’s important to regularly review and update your privacy policy. This helps you make sure it always accurately represents your current data handling practices and stays compliant with evolving laws. 

Add a Cookie Popup

Unlike some other privacy laws, the CCPA doesn’t always require users to actively opt in to data collection.

However, the CCPA strongly emphasizes two key points: users have the right to know about data collection, and they have the right to opt out if they choose.

The good news is that a cookie popup can help you achieve both of these important goals. 

A well-designed popup can clearly inform visitors about the types of cookies you use, what data they collect, and why you’re collecting it (their Right to Know). It can also give users a straightforward and easy way to exercise their Right to Opt Out.

There are many different cookie banner plugins on the market. However, I highly recommend using WPConsent because it makes adding a cookie popup or banner to your site incredibly simple.

WPConsent is a privacy compliance plugin designed to help you meet many different privacy standards, including the CCPA. 

We actually use WPConsent to display cookie banners and manage user consent across all our own websites, including WPBeginner. This firsthand experience has shown us just how effective and user-friendly WPConsent is.

To get started, you simply install and activate the plugin, as normal.

Upon activation, WPConsent will scan your entire site for active cookies and record all the ones it finds. 

Next, WPConsent’s helpful setup wizard will show you how to customize your cookie popup.

As you make changes, WPConsent will display a live preview, allowing you to see exactly how the banner will appear on your WordPress website.

You can then adjust the layout, position, font size, button style, colors, and even add your own custom logo.

When you’re happy with how everything looks, just save your changes, and you’re done. The cookie banner will now appear on your WordPress website.

For details, see our guide on how to add a cookie popup in WordPress.

Write a Separate Cookie Policy 

In addition to a popup or banner, it’s also a good idea to create a cookie policy with specific details about how your site uses cookies. This helps visitors better understand how you collect and use their personal information.

In your cookie policy, you should clearly list the different types of cookies your site uses, like essential, analytics, or marketing cookies. You can also explain their purpose, such as tracking website visitors or delivering targeted advertisements. 

I also recommend explaining what personal information these cookies collect, like IP addresses or browsing history.

To encourage visitor trust, you should keep your cookie policy easy to understand. This means avoiding technical terms or legal jargon. Instead, use clear and straightforward language that anyone can follow.

Visitors should be able to find your cookie policy easily. I recommend adding a link to it within your main privacy policy and also inside your cookie banner.

Thankfully, a tool like WPConsent can handle all this for you. As I’ve already shown, WPConsent can scan your site and identify all active cookies. 

But WPConsent can also use this information to generate a cookie policy. You can find this setting by going to WPConsent » Settings.

Within the plugin’s settings, simply select the page where you want to display the cookie policy.

WPConsent will then go ahead and add this policy to your chosen page. It’s as easy as that!

Are you using WPConsent to display a cookie popup? Then visitors can easily access this cookie policy directly.

They simply have to click on the ‘Preferences’ button.

Then, they’ll need to select the ‘Cookie Policy’ link.

And that’s it! WPConsent will take them straight to the right page.

Block Third-Party Scripts 

One of the trickiest things about CCPA compliance is that it also applies to any external tracking tools you’re using on your site. This includes things like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.

That’s because these tracking tools often collect data from your visitors. According to CCPA, you’re responsible for managing how these third-party tools collect, store, and use this data. You also need to let visitors opt out of these third-party tools, if they choose.

So, how do you control external tracking tools? I recommend using automatic script blocking.

This feature stops tracking scripts from loading until the visitor clearly gives their consent. This helps you meet the CCPA’s Right to Know requirement, as visitors clearly understand what they’re agreeing to.

Here, you’re also making third-party tracking opt-in rather than just opt-out. This approach goes beyond the basic standards set by the CCPA.

By taking things one step further, you’re demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting visitor privacy. It shows that your priority is user data protection, rather than simply meeting the minimum standards outlined by the CCPA.

Thankfully, WPConsent has an automatic script blocking feature that works out of the box. Behind the scenes, it automatically detects and blocks common tracking scripts like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel, without causing your site to break. 

As soon as the visitor gives their consent, WPConsent executes the script instantly. This means it provides a truly seamless user experience because it doesn’t need to reload the page.

Track and Log Visitor Consent

Even if you’re following CCPA regulations perfectly, there’s always a chance your data handling practices might be questioned. You could even get audited by regulators.

If that happens, you’ll need to prove that you’re respecting your visitors’ choices. With that in mind, it’s super important to track and log user consent.

By keeping a comprehensive log, you’ll always have concrete proof that you’re complying with all the CCPA’s requirements.

Once again, WPConsent does the hard work for you by automatically logging user consent. It records all essential details, including the user’s IP address, their specific consent choices, and the date and time when those choices were registered.

WPConsent then displays all this information directly within your WordPress dashboard. You can find it by going to WPConsent » Consent Logs.

Do you need to share this log with someone else, such as an auditor? You can simply export it from your WordPress dashboard, making it easy to provide proof of your compliance.

Build Trust with Opt-Outs

Under the CCPA, you must give visitors a way to opt out of the sale or sharing of their personal information.

The easiest way to do this is by using WPConsent’s Do Not Track add-on. This lets you add a dedicated ‘Do Not Track’ page to your site with just a few clicks. 

You can find it by going to WPConsent » Do Not Track » Configuration in your dashboard.

Visitors can simply head over to this page and opt out of selling or sharing their personal data.

This straightforward approach enables visitors to exercise their rights without confusion or delay, providing a fantastic user experience. 

Even better, WPConsent stores all these requests locally in a custom table directly on your site.

In this way, you maintain full control over this sensitive data, and you’re not relying on external services to store crucial compliance records.

And WPConsent records all user requests. This means you can provide clear proof of compliance if you’re ever audited or a user asks about their opt-out status.

Support the ‘Right to Delete’

As I’ve already mentioned, the CCPA clearly states that users can request that you delete their personal data.

There are several ways to do this, but I recommend adding a data deletion form to your site. You can easily do this using a powerful form builder plugin like WPForms. 

In fact, WPForms has a dedicated Right to Erasure Request Form template that provides a great starting point, helping you set up this important compliance feature quickly and easily. 

After adding this form to your site, I recommend linking to it from your privacy policy page. Alternatively, you can embed it directly on the page. Whatever approach you take, the key is to ensure that visitors can easily find the form.

WPForms also has a powerful entry management system. This means you can easily filter all the submissions from your various forms and identify any data deletion requests that need to be actioned quickly.

To review your entries, simply head over to WPForms » Entries. Here, you’ll see a list of all the forms across your WordPress website.

Simply find your data erasure form and click it.

You’ll now see all your ‘delete data’ requests.

So, what happens when you receive a data deletion request? 

The good news is that WordPress has a built-in Erase Personal Data tool. Just head over to Tools » Erase Personal Data to access it.

In the ‘Username or email address’ field, type in the user’s information you want to remove.

This tool even includes a ‘Send personal data erasure confirmation email’ setting, which lets the user know when you have completed their request. 

Handle Data Access Requests Efficiently

Users should be able to request a copy of all the personal information you’ve collected about them. Thankfully, you can handle this in much the same way as the data deletion requests we just covered. 

To start, you can add a dedicated form to your site using WPForms. Once again, WPForms makes things very straightforward by offering a ready-made Data Request template.

This template is designed to gather all the information you need to fulfill the user’s request efficiently.

After adding this form to your site, WPForms will automatically log and display all these requests directly in your WordPress dashboard. This makes it easy to identify data access requests as they come in, so you can act on them quickly.

Once again, to see these submissions, go to WPForms » Entries. Here, select your data request form.

You’ll now see all the entries for this form.

You’ll also be happy to learn that WordPress has a built-in Export Personal Data tool. You can use this tool to export all the known data for any user, conveniently packaged as a .zip file.

To create this .zip, simply head over to Tools » Export Personal Data.

You can now type in the person’s username or email address to find the correct record.

Then, simply share the .zip file with the person who made the request.

WordPress and CCPA Compliance: FAQs

Online privacy is a serious topic, so I’m not surprised if you still have some questions about CCPA compliance and how it affects your WordPress website. 

In this section, I’ll cover the most frequently asked questions WPBeginner gets on this topic and offer some straightforward, practical advice.

How does CCPA affect how I use cookies on my WordPress website?

To comply with CCPA, you must clearly tell visitors how your site uses cookies for tracking. 

It’s also important to remember that the CCPA generally takes an opt-out approach to cookies, rather than an opt-in one. This means you can still use cookies by default, but you must allow visitors to opt out if they choose. 

The CCPA also gives users the right to opt out of their personal information being sold and shared.

The issue is that the definition of ‘sale or sharing’ is very broad, and may include data your website makes available to other companies via cookies. Targeted ads are a perfect example of this. 

So, if your cookies might lead to the ‘sale or sharing’ of data, then it’s even more important to offer a clear and easy way for visitors to opt out. 

What happens if I fail to comply with CCPA?

Non-compliance can lead to serious consequences for your WordPress site and business. You might face big financial penalties, with fines going up to $7,500 for each intentional violation. 

Even if you breach the CCPA by mistake, you can still be fined up to $2,500 per incident. These fines can add up very quickly, especially if the violation affects many users.

In addition to fines, breaching the CCPA can damage your reputation. 

In today’s digital world, users care deeply about their privacy. If your audience thinks you don’t care about their privacy, then they’ll lose trust in your brand, and you’ll struggle to grow your online business.

How often should I review my CCPA compliance?

Every website is different, but I generally recommend reviewing your CCPA compliance at least once per year.

It’s also really important to review your compliance every time you make big changes to how you handle user data. 

Additional Resources

Staying informed and proactive is essential for maintaining CCPA compliance on your WordPress site.

The following resources offer valuable insights and practical tools to help you keep up with evolving privacy regulations and best practices:

• Official CCPA Website – Get the latest documentation and updates about the CCPA directly from the California Attorney General’s office.
• How to Make Google Fonts Privacy Friendly
• How to Keep Personally Identifiable Info Out of Google Analytics
• How to Know if Your WordPress Website Uses Cookies
• How to Stop Storing IP Addresses in WordPress Comments
• The Ultimate WordPress Security Guide – Step by Step

I hope this ultimate guide to WordPress CCPA compliance has helped you understand this important privacy law. Next, you may want to see our expert picks for the best WordPress security plugins or our guide on how to add WordPress analytics without cookies. 

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