Do You Need a Website Privacy Policy in 2026?

Spoiler: You Probably Need a Privacy Policy on Your Website

If you've ever been on the internet (and if you're reading this, I bet you have!) then you know that privacy is a thing now. A pop-up-on-every-website thing.

A few years ago, websites collectively decided to interrupt your scrolling to warn you about cookies. Rude. But if cookies aren't a delicious snack then what are they and why do they need your consent? 

What is a Website Cookie?

Basically, a cookie is s tiny little file that a website stores on your browser to remember things about you. And no, it didn't start out being creepy. Cookies help websites remember your login info and keep items in your shopping cart when you come back to a website you definitely visited while you were tipsy last weekend. They may also help with caching to make websites load faster.

Cookies can also be used to track more personal data like what pages you visit, what you're looking at, what state you're in, what you click, how long you look at something and even what device you're using. I’ve written before about how tools like Google Analytics collect this information so ads can follow you around the internet like a clingy ex.

So does the internet know that you 🎶 like piña coladas and getting caught in the rain 🎶? Maybe. Have you been posting about it on Facebook? Then yes, definitely yes.

The E.U. and the GDPR

Other countries (not the United States) started asking uncomfortable questions. Like: “Should people maybe know when their data is being collected?” 

Their solution? A 200 page rule book that boils down to, “Do not even think about collecting someone’s data without consent, documentation and possibly a notarized letter from their mother.”

That is the short story of how we got those cookie consent banners. It wasn’t the internet trying to annoy you, it was website owners desperately trying not to get fined by the European Union.

Privacy Laws in the United States

Meanwhile, here in the U.S. we shrugged. We wake up to a new privacy scandal every morning, sigh deeply, refill our coffee and keep scrolling.

But things are changing. The U.S. is starting to catch up on privacy laws, just not in a logical, unified, easy to follow kind of way. No, we're doing it in the most chaotic way imaginable: One state at a time, at random, with different rules that change constantly! America!

I know you're wondering how this applies to you since obviously you don't live in one of those states. First of all: are you sure? Secondly: it doesn't matter.

Maryland has entered the chat and they have some hot privacy rules that they want you to follow. Why? Because people in that state can (and likely do) visit your website, that's why!

Furthermore, even the GDPR applies to you as long as people in Europe can visit your website. They don't call it the "world wide" web for nothing! 

To be perfectly clear, if you have a website then it is subject to the privacy laws of every state and country in the world! Go ahead, have a panic attack. I'll wait.

Yes, Your Website Collects Data

Now I know you may be thinking that you don't actually collect data on your website so, no problem for you. It’s just a simple site. It’s a blog about your grandmother’s macramé collection read by exactly 4 people. 

Bad news: If you are using a CMS like Wordpress, that website is collecting data. If you have a form on your website, boom you're collecting data.

Additionally, if you have Google Analytics, a Facebook pixel or if you are running paid ads, then your website is collecting data. Even a plain HTML website is collecting something. To put it simply: your website is probably collecting data that you're unaware of.

I would love to see a website that doesn’t collect data because I’m not convinced it exists.

So yes, the internet is collecting data about you that you don't understand... and your website is collecting data about your visitors that you don't fully understand. How is that for a privacy violation?

Your Website Needs a Privacy Policy

Now you’re probably thinking, “Okay, I guess I need a privacy policy.”

You could grab one from a lawyer website and hope for the best. But privacy laws change constantly and vary wildly by location. Keeping that thing accurate on your own is basically a part-time job.

Good luck with that.

Privacy Policy & Compliance Solutions

The smarter move is using a service that actually keeps up with all these laws for you.

Here at Geary Company, we’ve partnered with Termageddon, a service that:

• Tracks privacy law changes across states and countries
• Updates your privacy policy automatically
• Sends you emails when something changes
• Does the hard part so you don’t have to

You fill out a simple checklist, add their code to your website and Termageddon handles the rest. When a new law applies to you? Your policy updates automatically. No panic attacks required.

It’s also way more affordable than hiring a lawyer or defending yourself in a lawsuit! They've got it all!

Bonus: if you use our promo code GEARYCO you’ll get 10% off your first year. And if you email us, we’ll even help you add it to your website so you barely have to lift a finger.

Full Disclosure (Because, You Know… Privacy)

Yes, we use Termageddon on our own website.
Yes, we’re part of their referral program.
Yes, we may be compensated if you use our link or promo code.

And yes, we still genuinely think it’s worth it.

The internet already knows enough about you. Don’t let your website become the reason it knows even more. Set up a privacy policy once. Let it update itself. Never think about it again. You know what to do.