Privacy policies and terms of use pages are not part of your SEO content package. These are legal documents that require expertise outside of what Digital Shift provides. Depending on your situation, your web developer, a legal professional, or your corporate team will be the right people to help.
Quick Summary
Privacy policy and terms of use pages are not part of your SEO content package.
These pages require legal expertise that falls outside of what Digital Shift provides.
If you are an independent business owner, a web developer will need to create or update these pages for you.
If you are part of a franchise or brand, your home office manages these policies and should be your first point of contact.
Privacy and compliance requirements differ between Canada and the United States. Make sure the right people are reviewing your pages for your specific region.
Is This Part of My Package?
Digital Shift specializes in SEO content. We focus on the pages, blog posts, and location content that help your business show up in search results. Privacy policies and terms of use pages are legal documents that fall outside of that scope.
Because these pages carry legal and compliance requirements that vary by region and business type, they need to be written or reviewed by someone with the right legal expertise. It is not something we handle in-house.
Who Should You Contact?
Independent Business Owners
If you run your own business and are not part of a franchise, you will need to work with a web developer to create or update your privacy policy or terms of use page. They can add the page to your website and make sure it is formatted correctly.
For the actual content of these pages, we recommend working with a legal professional who is familiar with the privacy and compliance requirements in your province or state.
Franchise or Brand Owners
If you are part of a franchise or brand, your home office typically manages a centralized privacy policy and terms of use that applies across all locations and web properties. Reach out to your home office or corporate team to request updates or to get the current versions of these documents.
FAQ
Can Digital Shift write my privacy policy or terms of use for me?
Privacy policies and terms of use are legal documents that require expertise outside of what we provide as an SEO agency. For the best outcome, we recommend connecting with a web developer for the page itself and a legal professional for the content.
I am a franchise owner. Do I need my own privacy policy or terms of use?
In most cases, your home office manages a single privacy policy and terms of use that covers all franchise locations. These pages can only be updated by your corporate team with their legal team's approval.
If requirements have recently changed in your province, state, or region, your corporate legal team is likely already aware and reviewing what updates are needed. They work to keep these documents current across all locations so you do not have to manage this on your own.
If you have a specific concern or question, reach out to your corporate team directly. They are the right people to confirm the current status of your policies and let you know if any updates are in progress.
What are the privacy requirements for Canadian businesses?
In Canada, businesses are generally required to comply with PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act), which governs how private sector organizations collect, use, and share personal information. Some provinces, including Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia, have their own private sector privacy laws that may apply instead. If your business collects any personal information through your website, such as contact form submissions or email sign-ups, your privacy policy needs to reflect those obligations. A legal professional familiar with Canadian privacy law is the right person to help you get this right.
I operate in Quebec. Are there additional requirements I should know about?
Yes. Quebec's Law 25, also known as Bill 64, introduced some of the strictest privacy requirements in Canada. It has specific rules around how businesses collect consent, how they notify customers about data use, and how they handle data breaches. These requirements go beyond what PIPEDA covers and apply to businesses that collect personal information from Quebec residents. If you operate in Quebec or serve customers there, we strongly recommend speaking with a legal professional familiar with Quebec privacy law. If you are part of a franchise or brand with Quebec locations, contact your corporate team to confirm your current policies are up to date.
What are the privacy requirements for U.S. businesses?
In the United States, privacy requirements vary by state. California has some of the most well-known rules through the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), but other states including Virginia, Colorado, and Texas have passed their own privacy laws. If your business collects personal information from website visitors, your privacy policy should reflect the requirements of the states where you operate. A legal professional familiar with U.S. privacy law can help you determine what applies to your business.
What about CASL compliance?
CASL (Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation) governs how businesses send commercial electronic messages, including email and text marketing. Compliance with CASL is a legal matter and falls outside of what Digital Shift manages as an SEO agency. If you are part of a franchise or brand, contact your corporate team to confirm your current policies meet CASL requirements. If you are an independent business owner, we recommend speaking with a legal professional who is familiar with Canadian anti-spam rules.
What about CAN-SPAM compliance for U.S. businesses?
The CAN-SPAM Act is the U.S. federal law that sets rules for commercial email marketing. It covers things like how to identify your messages as advertising, how to include a physical mailing address, and how to handle unsubscribe requests. CAN-SPAM compliance is a legal matter that falls outside of what Digital Shift manages. If you are part of a franchise or brand, check with your corporate team to confirm your email practices meet these requirements. If you are an independent business owner, a legal professional can help you understand what is required.
My province or state requires specific opt-in language for text messaging. What do I do?
Text message opt-in consent requirements vary by region and are a legal compliance matter. In Canada, CASL sets rules around consent for commercial messages. In the United States, the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) governs text message marketing and has specific opt-in requirements. Reach out to your corporate team to confirm whether your current terms of use covers those requirements. If you are an independent business owner, a legal professional familiar with your province or state rules will be the right person to help.
Do I need a cookie consent banner on my website?
Cookie consent requirements depend on where your customers are located and what your website does with that data. In Canada, PIPEDA and Quebec's Law 25 both have implications for how websites use tracking technologies and collect consent. In the United States, California's CCPA includes rules around cookies and tracking for businesses that meet certain thresholds. Your web developer can help you set up a cookie consent banner, and a legal professional can confirm what the consent language needs to say for the regions you operate in. If you are part of a franchise or brand, your corporate team should be your first call.
What about other website compliance requirements, like ADA or AODA accessibility?
Website accessibility requirements are also outside of what Digital Shift manages. In the United States, the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) set standards for how websites should be built to be accessible to all users. In Ontario, Canada, the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) sets similar requirements for businesses operating in that province. These are technical and legal matters that go beyond SEO content. If you are an independent business owner, contact your web developer to review your site for compliance. If you are part of a franchise or brand, reach out to your corporate team, as these requirements typically need to be addressed consistently across all locations.