PDPL Compliance for WordPress: A Beginner’s Guide

I’ve assisted numerous WordPress users in understanding various privacy regulations; however, Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) often catches website owners off guard.

PDPL compliance is mandatory if your website gathers personal data from individuals within Saudi Arabia, which is highly probable.

The law encompasses contact forms, newsletter subscriptions, user profiles, and blog comments, irrespective of your physical location relative to Saudi Arabia.

I frequently receive messages from readers who were unaware of these requirements until they faced potential penalties.

Fortunately, achieving compliance doesn’t need to be difficult or costly.

I have dedicated considerable time to researching the PDPL and evaluating WordPress plugins to ensure this guide is accessible to beginners. I’ll provide precise instructions on how to safeguard your company, adhere to the law, and cultivate trust with your audience.

What Is the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)?

The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) in Saudi Arabia safeguards the personal data of individuals residing there, establishing specific guidelines for businesses regarding data collection, usage, and storage.

Similar to other privacy regulations like the GDPR, the PDPL’s reach extends beyond local businesses, impacting websites, blogs, and e-commerce platforms globally.

The main consideration is whether your WordPress site processes data originating from individuals within Saudi Arabia. If you have a global audience, it is probable that the PDPL is relevant to your website.

Therefore, comprehending the scope of this legislation and implementing appropriate compliance measures is essential.

Why WordPress Users Should Care About PDPL Compliance

Non-compliance with the PDPL can result in substantial penalties. Fines may amount to SAR 5 million (approximately $1.3 million USD) for each instance of violation. This amount can be doubled for subsequent offenses.

Sharing sensitive data unlawfully, especially with malicious intent, carries even harsher penalties. This could lead to imprisonment for up to two years, alongside fines reaching SAR 3 million (roughly $800,000 USD).

However, PDPL compliance extends beyond mere legal avoidance; it’s also about fostering trust.

By empowering visitors with greater authority over their personal information, you demonstrate respect for their privacy. This can lead to increased sign-ups, conversions, and sales, thereby facilitating the expansion of your online venture.

Conversely, neglecting PDPL compliance can severely impact your reputation.

Furthermore, the PDPL’s jurisdiction can extend to you regardless of your physical location, mirroring the GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Compliance hinges on the origin of the data you collect, not your geographical position.

In light of these considerations, virtually all WordPress users should be mindful of PDPL compliance.

How PDPL Affects Your WordPress Site

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

This encompasses data that can identify a person, like their name, email, IP address, physical address, and even browsing history tracked by cookies.

If you own a WordPress site, here are essential rights and responsibilities to understand for compliance:

• Right to Be Informed:You must inform visitors about what data is collected, its usage, and if it’s shared with others. Ensure this is easily accessible; don’t bury the information.
• Right to Access:Users have the right to request a copy of their personal data that you have collected.
• Right to Correction:Individuals can request you correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
• Right to Delete:People have the right to request deletion of 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.

This guide will show you how to support these rights with beginner-friendly tips and simple tools.

Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance for WordPress Websites

Compliance can seem daunting, especially with risks like reputation damage, large fines, or even imprisonment.

Fundamentally, the PDPL concerns clarity and transparency with your users. It focuses on empowering people to control how their personal information is collected and utilized.

Let’s review actions you can implement to adhere to PDPL guidelines.

Perform Regular Data Audits

The initial action for PDPL compliance involves understanding the personal data gathered and its handling; perform a complete data assessment of your WordPress website.

A thorough assessment will reveal if current procedures align with PDPL regulations and highlight necessary modifications.

To begin, consider these questions:

• What personal data do I collect? This could include names, email addresses, IP addresses, payment details, and more.
• How do I use this data? Analyze your data processing methods, including sharing with team members or external platforms like advertising networks or email providers.
• Do I really need this data? Discontinue collecting any data that lacks a practical application.
• How secure is it? Assess your WordPress security setup, verify access permissions, and think about implementing security plugins to enhance protection.

After conducting the audit, document all findings meticulously. Maintain a detailed record of the data gathered, its usage, and the specific actions implemented to maintain compliance.

Comprehensive documentation demonstrates a commitment to privacy, which is crucial during audits or when explaining your data practices.

Generally, it is advisable to perform a fresh audit at least annually. Additionally, reassess your data management procedures whenever modifications occur in how your website gathers or utilizes personal data.

Given the potential for changes in privacy regulations, it’s prudent to reassess your practices each time the PDPL undergoes revisions.

Collect Less Data 

After reviewing the data you collect, determine whether all of it is truly necessary.

According to the PDPL, data collection should be limited to information that is pertinent, requisite, and aligned with a defined objective, precluding the acquisition of extraneous data for potential future use.

Eliminate the collection of any data that is not strictly necessary.

This concept, known as data minimization, not only aids in compliance but also simplifies your data management processes.

Collecting less data streamlines organization and facilitates responding to user requests. For instance, fulfilling requests for data deletion or copies becomes easier with a reduced volume of data.

Therefore, examine your forms and plugins to identify and remove or simplify any non-essential data collection practices.

Create a Privacy Policy 

In your privacy policy, detail the types of personal data collected, how it is utilized, and with whom it is shared. Consider it a commitment to transparency with your site’s visitors.

A clear, readily available privacy policy is not just suggested under the PDPL; it is mandatory.

Fortunately, WordPress includes a built-in tool to generate a privacy policy. Utilize it as a base, then tailor it to your specific website.

The CanadaCreate privacy policy can serve as a reference.

When using our template, remember to substitute all instances of CanadaCreate with your own blog or company details.

For detailed guidance, refer to our comprehensive walkthrough on adding a privacy policy to WordPress.

If you already have a privacy policy, ensure it reflects users’ PDPL rights, such as the Right to Be Informed and the Right to Access. Provide clear instructions on how to utilize these rights.

For instance, you might include a link to a form for data requests or explain the procedure for requesting data deletion.

Regularly audit your privacy policy to maintain its accuracy as your website expands and changes.

Add a Cookie Popup

The PDPL requires explicit consent prior to setting cookies that gather personal information, excluding those deemed strictly necessary.

You are required to inform visitors about your cookie practices and secure their explicit approval before employing any non-essential cookies.

Implementing a cookie consent popup on your WordPress site is the recommended approach.

A thoughtfully designed popup supports crucial PDPL rights, particularly the Right to Be Informed. This feature clearly explains the types of cookies used, the data they collect, and the reasons for data collection.

Your popup can also be configured to accommodate theRight to ObjectUsers are able to simply select ‘Reject’ to decline non-essential cookies, avoiding complex settings adjustments.

Numerous cookie banner plugins exist; however, WPConsent is highly recommended. It’s a robust WordPress privacy solution designed to aid in compliance with PDPL, GDPR, and similar privacy regulations.

We actually use WPConsent across all our web properties, including CanadaCreate. It offers straightforward setup and manages cookie banners, consent records, and related functions efficiently.

To begin, install and activate the WPConsent plugin, following the standard WordPress plugin installation procedure.

WPConsent automatically scans your website, generating a comprehensive list of all identified cookies.

Subsequently, the setup wizard guides you through popup customization. A live preview displays changes in real-time, providing a clear view of the banner’s appearance on your site.

Customize layout, placement, text size, button appearance, colors, and even incorporate a unique logo.

Upon finalizing the design, save the implemented changes. The cookie banner will then be displayed on your site, actively gathering consent from your site visitors.

Establish a specific Cookie Policy page.

Beyond implementing a cookie popup, creating a distinct cookie policy page is advisable. This dedicated space offers a clear explanation of your site’s cookie usage and the data collected through them.

By composing a dedicated policy, you reinforce the PDPL’s Right to Be Informed, fostering increased trust with your audience.

Within your cookie policy, enumerate the specific cookie categories your site employs, such as essential, analytics, and marketing. Detail the function of each category, for instance, visitor tracking or personalized ad display.

It’s also a good idea to specify the types of personal data these cookies gather. This might encompass IP addresses, browsing patterns, or referral URLs.

Aim for accessible language, steering clear of overly technical terms. Opt for straightforward, understandable wording to ensure clarity for all readers.

If you’re using WPConsent, you’re in luck. The plugin can automatically generate a detailed cookie policy for you. Just go to WPConsent » SettingsNext, specify the page on which the policy should be displayed.

WPConsent will automatically generate the cookie policy’s content, using information derived from the cookies identified during its scan.

You can then insert this generated content on your selected page by using a shortcode.

After publishing your policy, ensure its accessibility. A footer link or inclusion within your general privacy policy are both good options.

Consider adding a link within your cookie consent popup, providing users direct access to the complete policy before setting cookie preferences.

If you’ve used WPConsent to create your popup, this link is automatically incorporated. Clicking the ‘Preferences’ button reveals a direct link to the full cookie policy.

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

That’s all there is to it! WPConsent will guide them to the correct page.

Block Third-Party Scripts 

A challenging aspect of PDPL compliance involves managing third-party tracking tools, like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.

These tools frequently gather personal data, including IP addresses, location details, and cross-page behavior. This data collection subjects them to the PDPL, requiring you to secure consent prior to loading their scripts.

Implementing automatic script blocking is highly recommended. This prevents scripts from executing until a visitor explicitly opts in.

If you’re a WPConsent user, you’re already set, as it includes built-in automatic script blocking functionality.

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 are required to gather and record cookie consent data to adhere to privacy regulations and demonstrate that valid user consent was obtained. This is useful for audits, complaints, or legal inquiries.

Logging visitor consent safeguards your business, fosters visitor trust, and provides strong proof of your PDPL compliance.

With WPConsent, this process is automated. The plugin automatically logs each consent event, capturing essential information like the visitor’s IP address, the specifics of their agreement, and the date and time of consent.

All this information is accessible directly within your WordPress dashboard. Simply navigate toWPConsent » Consent Logs.

If the need arises to share the log data with legal counsel or auditors, the information can be exported directly from your dashboard.

Enable Users to Revoke Consent

The PDPL stipulates that individuals possess the authority to reverse their decisions and retract consent whenever they wish. To maintain compliance, you must provide your website visitors with an easily accessible and straightforward method to accomplish this.

A recommended solution is utilizing WPConsent’s Do Not Track extension. This tool enables you to establish a specific ‘Do Not Track’ page with minimal effort.

After installing the add-on, navigate toWPConsent » Do Not Track » Configurationto configure your form.

Visitors can then go to this page and fill out a short form to withdraw their consent.
This process is efficient, intuitive for users, and demonstrates your commitment to respecting their privacy preferences.

After the initial setup, you can designate the page where this form will be displayed, and WPConsent will manage the subsequent processes automatically.

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.

Furthermore, the plugin automatically records each request. Therefore, in the event of an audit, you will have comprehensive records confirming that you have respected your visitors’ choices.

As another option, you might employ WPForms to design a data removal form that integrates seamlessly into your website. In contrast to WPConsent, WPForms grants you comprehensive control to tailor the form precisely to your specifications.

The plugin includes a pre-built ‘Right to Erasure Request Form’ template, which lets you swiftly integrate this form onto your site. It directly supports the ‘Right to Delete’.

The WPForms drag-and-drop editor allows customization of the template, enabling you to easily modify fields.

Once the form is ready, embed it on your site using a shortcode or the WPForms block.

After form integration, ensure easy visitor access by linking it from your privacy policy page or embedding it there directly.

Another option is to place a link in your site’s footer, ensuring it remains accessible to all visitors.

The subsequent step involves examining any data deletion requests submitted by users.

WPForms provides a robust entry management system for efficiently tracking form submissions.

To access and review your form entries, navigate toWPForms » EntriesHere, a list of all forms present on your WordPress website will be displayed.

Locate the data erasure form and select it.

You’ll now be able to view all data deletion requests.

How should you respond to a new deletion request when you receive it?

Fortunately, WordPress offers a built-in ‘Erase Personal Data’ feature. Using this tool, you can erase all personal data for a specific user, often removing the necessity for additional plugins.

To use it, navigate toTools » Erase Personal Datato find this feature.

Enter the username or email address of the user whose information needs to be erased in the corresponding field.

The tool also offers a ‘Send personal data erasure confirmation email’ option. Enabling this will notify the user that their request is complete, ensuring transparency and fostering trust.

Efficiently Manage Data Access Requests

According to the PDPL, users can request a copy of all personal data your site has collected about them. You can manage these data access requests similarly to the deletion requests discussed earlier.

The simplest method is to integrate a request form into your website. Consider using WPForms, which provides a pre-designed Data Request template.

Choose the template, then customize it using the drag-and-drop interface. Easily modify the form fields to gather the necessary details for each individual request.

Once the form is published, WPForms tracks each submission within your WordPress admin panel, enabling swift responses to new requests.

To access these entries, go toWPForms » Entries and select your data request form.

Here, you’ll see all submissions made via the 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 CanadaCreate, 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.
• The Ultimate Guide to WordPress Privacy Compliance
• 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.

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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.