WordPress UCPA Compliance: A Beginner’s Guide

Initially, online privacy rules seemed simple when I built my first WordPress site. A basic privacy policy, an updated TOS, and that was generally it.

However, privacy regulations have become more complex recently. Utah and other states now enforce stringent privacy laws applicable to global businesses, even those outside the U.S.

The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) can impose penalties of up to $7,500 for each violation. Official guidelines are often targeted at legal professionals, making compliance difficult for WordPress users.

Many find it challenging to understand these requirements. This guide aims to clarify the UCPA’s implications and necessary WordPress actions for website owners.

After extensive research into the law, plugin testing, and tool evaluation, I’ve identified the easiest methods to help you maintain compliance while focusing on business growth.

What is the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA)?

The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) safeguards the personal data of Utah residents by regulating how businesses handle its collection, usage, and storage.

Here, personal data encompasses any information capable of identifying an individual, like names, email addresses, IP addresses, or device identifiers.

The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) can have implications for organizations beyond Utah, or even the USA. If your WordPress site handles information from Utah residents, the UCPA might be relevant.

However, the UCPA’s scope is not universal for all WordPress sites. It primarily targets larger organizations satisfying particular criteria.

First, your organization must conduct operations within Utah or offer services or products directed toward Utah inhabitants.

Next, your organization’s yearly revenue should be $25 million USD or greater.

Additionally, you’ll have to satisfy at least one of the subsequent data handling conditions:

• Control or process the personal data of 100,000 or more Utah consumers.
• Get more than 50% of your gross revenue from selling personal data and manage or process the information of at least 25,000 Utah consumers.

These stipulations are quite precise compared to certain other data privacy regulations.

Nevertheless, if your organization fulfills these requirements, UCPA compliance is essential.

Why Should WordPress Users Care About UCPA Compliance?

UCPA non-compliance can lead to considerable financial penalties. Should your organization breach this law, the Utah Attorney General will initially send formal written notification. Subsequently, you’ll have 30 days to rectify the matter; this is termed a ‘cure period.’

If the problem persists beyond that timeframe, the Attorney General may impose penalties.

Fines can reach up to $7,500 per infraction. Furthermore, each instance of personal data misuse constitutes an individual violation.

These penalties can add up quickly for qualifying businesses. For example, if you mishandle the data of 100 Utah residents, you could face up to $750,000 in penalties.

How UCPA Affects Your WordPress Site

As I’ve already mentioned, the UCPA is a state-level privacy law that gives consumers specific rights over their personal data.

Here are a few key consumer rights that may affect your WordPress website:

• The Right to Know: Users can ask for information on the personal data you collect about them. That means you’ll need to clearly explain your data collection practices.
• The Right to Correction: Users can request corrections to any inaccurate information.
• The Right to Delete: Users can ask you to remove their personal data.
• The Right to Data Portability: Users can request a copy of their data in a format that’s easy to access.
• The Right to Opt Out of Data Sales: Users can ask you not to sell their personal data.
• The Right to Opt Out of Targeted Advertising: Users can opt out of having their data used for personalized ads.

Next, I’ll show you how to meet these UCPA requirements using WordPress tools and best practices.

How to Improve Your UCPA Compliance in WordPress

Navigating UCPA compliance can feel overwhelming at first. But at its core, it’s really about being clear with your audience and giving them control over how you collect and use their personal data.

Let’s get started. You can use the links below to jump to any section:

Conduct a Thorough Data Audit

To comply with UCPA, begin by understanding the data you manage. Systematically review all personal information your website gathers, uses, or retains, and keep records.

Start by creating a comprehensive list of all WordPress plugins and external services that access user data. Include tools for analytics, email marketing, form creation, and SEO.

With your list complete, carefully investigate how each element manages user data.

For instance, a quote request form may gather visitor information such as their name, company affiliation, and job title via your chosen form builder.

To further analyze your data practices, consider the following questions:

• What personal data do I collect? This could include details like names, email addresses, IP addresses, payment information, or other data points that could identify an individual.
• Where is this data stored? Is the information stored locally on your server, or is it transferred to a third-party application?
• What is the purpose of this data collection? Is the data strictly necessary for website operation, or is it simply an added convenience?
• How long will you retain this data?Do you currently maintain an explicit data retention policy?
• With whom are you sharing collected data? Are you passing it along to service providers, advertisers, or analytics platforms?

Performing a data audit quickly reveals areas needing updates to meet UCPA compliance.

Develop a comprehensive Data Compliance Document.

Following the data audit, documenting findings is vital; detail all UCPA-related actions and updates made to resolve discovered issues.

This document serves as proof of your dedication to user privacy, particularly during audits or compliance inquiries.

Demonstrating UCPA compliance publicly is as important as internal adherence, as I will emphasize throughout this guide.

Therefore, document all personal information collected in your compliance document, ensuring you specify the following for each data type:

• Specify the origin of the data, such as forms, plugins, or external tools.
• Clarify the reason for collecting the data, distinguishing between essential and optional purposes.
• How the data is used, shared, or sold
• Indicate the data’s retention period.
• Whether it falls under a special category (like sensitive or financial data)
• Describe the security measures implemented to safeguard the data.
• List all third-party vendors or contracts involved in data processing.

This record demonstrates to regulators and users your commitment to privacy protection.

Generally, performing a comprehensive data audit annually is a sound practice. You should also reassess compliance when installing plugins, modifying data collection, or implementing significant site updates.

Given the potential for legal changes, periodically verifying your compliance following UCPA updates is advisable.

Collect Less Data 

In contrast to certain other privacy regulations, the UCPA permits the collection of non-essential personal information, provided you present a transparent privacy notice and offer users an opt-out mechanism.

However, adhering to data minimization principles remains a smart approach, meaning you only gather data that is truly necessary.

Data minimization greatly simplifies UCPA compliance by:

• Reducing the volume of data to search through when fulfilling a user’s request for a copy of their personal data.
• Reducing the amount of data requiring deletion when a user exercises their right to be forgotten.

Begin by examining the forms and tools on your website, questioning whether each data point requested is truly essential.

If not essential, discontinuing its collection is the optimal course of action.

Create a Privacy Policy 

A privacy policy is a dedicated page that details the types of personal data you collect, how that data is utilized, and with whom it is shared.

Developing a thorough privacy policy is a crucial element of UCPA compliance, as it educates visitors about your data handling practices and directly supports their Right to Know as mandated by the law.

Fortunately, WordPress offers an integrated privacy policy generator, accessible viaSettings » Privacy within your WordPress administration panel.

Consider using the CanadaCreate privacy policy page as a starting point.

Remember to change every instance of ‘CanadaCreate’ to your website’s or business’s name.

We also offer a comprehensive guide on creating a WordPress privacy policy if you need additional support.

If a privacy policy is already in place, it’s wise to revise it with details pertinent to the UCPA. This involves thoroughly detailing user entitlements, for example, the Right to Know, the Right to Delete, and the Right to Correction.

Also, your policy must instruct visitors on how to utilize these rights.

For instance, provide a link to a ‘do not sell my info’ page, enabling users to inform you of their desire to prevent sharing their personal information with third-party entities.

Also, routinely examine and revise your privacy policy. Doing so ensures it mirrors your present procedures and remains compliant with any forthcoming UCPA modifications.

Integrate a Cookie Notification

The UCPA uses an opt-out system for cookie consent. Consequently, you can deploy non-essential cookies initially, provided you offer users a straightforward opt-out option.

This differs from more stringent regulations like the GDPR, where pre-consent is mandatory before implementing non-essential cookies.

What classifies as non-essential cookies?This category encompasses cookies for analytics, advertising, and tracking user activity. According to the UCPA, anything not vital for site operation is deemed non-essential.

Fortunately, using a cookie popup can assist you in adhering to these legal requirements.

A straightforward, user-friendly banner can effectively inform visitors about the types of cookies your site employs, the data gathered, and the reasons for collection, providing a clear opt-out option.

Although various plugins provide cookie banners, I recommend WPConsent because it’s user-friendly and compatible with several privacy regulations, such as the UCPA, VCDPA, and PDPL.

We utilize WPConsent on CanadaCreate for cookie banner management and consent tracking, and our experience has been positive.

Start by installing and enabling the plugin.

Once it’s active, WPConsent will automatically scan your website and detect all active cookies.

From there, the setup wizard helps you design your cookie banner. You can customize the layout, position, button styles, colors, and even add your logo.

WPConsent provides a real-time preview of your modifications, showing exactly how the banner will display on your website.

After finalizing the design, save the changes to immediately activate the cookie banner on your WordPress site.

For detailed instructions, refer to our comprehensive tutorial on adding a cookie popup in WordPress.

Write a Separate Cookie Policy 

Implementing a cookie consent popup is a valuable initial action. However, it’s also advisable to develop a specific cookie policy, providing a thorough explanation of your site’s cookie usage.

This allows users to more clearly understand the types of personal data collected by your site and its utilization.

Your cookie policy should cover these points:

• Provide a list of all cookie types used by your site, including essential, analytical, and marketing cookies.
• Clarify the function of each cookie. Some, for instance, may monitor site visitors or display tailored ads.
• Describe the data each cookie collects, like IP addresses or browsing history.

To foster confidence, use straightforward, accessible language. Where possible, avoid complex technical or legal terminology.

After preparing your policy, ensure it’s readily accessible. Consider linking to it from your main privacy policy and within your cookie banner.

Fortunately, WPConsent is capable of managing this complete procedure.

It can scan your site to identify cookies and then use the discovered information to automatically create a cookie policy.

To begin, navigate toWPConsent » Settings.

Within the plugin’s settings, you must specify the page where you wish your cookie policy to be displayed.

WPConsent will automatically incorporate the policy onto the specified page.

If you are already utilizing WPConsent to show a cookie banner, visitors will be able to view the policy directly via the popup.

They just need to click the ‘Preferences’ button.

From there, they can select the ‘Cookie Policy’ link to visit the full page.

Here’s an example of what that looks like.

Block Third-Party Scripts 

One tricky part of the UCPA is that it also applies to third-party tracking tools like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel.

Even though third-party tools handle the tracking, you’re legally responsible for how they collect and use visitor data on your site. That means you also need to give users a way to opt out.

A simple way to handle this is by using automatic script blocking. This prevents third-party scripts from running until the visitor gives consent.

This also supports the UCPA’s Right to Know by ensuring users understand what data is being collected before it happens.

Even though the UCPA follows an opt-out model, script blocking goes a step beyond minimum compliance by turning third-party tracking into an opt-in process.

Fortunately, WPConsent makes this easy with a built-in automatic script blocking feature.

It detects and blocks common tools like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel, without breaking your site.

Then, as soon as a visitor gives consent, the plugin loads the script immediately without reloading the page.

Track and Log Visitor Consent

Your UCPA data practices might still be questioned. For example, regulators could request an audit, or a customer might ask how their data is being handled.

That’s why it’s important to track and log user consent. This gives you clear, time-stamped proof that you’re honoring each user’s preferences.

WPConsent takes care of this process for you automatically, recording the user’s IP address, consent settings, and the precise date and time consent was given.

You can access this data at any point by navigating toWPConsent » Consent Logswithin your WordPress admin area.

Should you need to share this log, for example, with an auditor, you can export it directly from your website.

Simply access the Export tab, specify the desired date range, and then click the ‘Export’ button.

WPConsent will then create a CSV file containing all consent data logged, which can be shared as necessary.

Provide a Method for Users to Opt Out (Do Not Track Form)

The UCPA grants users the right to decline the sale or sharing of their personal information, obligating you to provide an accessible and straightforward opt-out process.

The easiest approach involves utilizing WPConsent’s Do Not Track add-on, which allows for the creation of a dedicated opt-out page with minimal effort.

To begin, navigate toWPConsent » Do Not Track » Configuration in your WordPress dashboard.

WPConsent will walk you through the steps to install the add-on and create a Do Not Track form.

After setup, visitors can complete the form to opt out of the sale or sharing of their data.

This provides a transparent and simple way for users to assert their rights, while simultaneously enhancing your site’s user experience.

WPConsent saves all requests in a dedicated table on your server. You retain total control of this private information, eliminating dependence on third-party systems.

Each request is logged automatically, providing irrefutable documentation for compliance reviews.

Support the ‘Right to Delete’

Under UCPA regulations, users are empowered to request the removal of their personal information.

A straightforward approach involves integrating a data removal request form into your WordPress website, providing visitors with a secure channel for submitting deletion requests.

WPForms can help. It provides a drag-and-drop form builder and a ready-made Right to Erasure form.

Although labeled with GDPR terminology, the Right to Erasure form is suitable for UCPA requests too, and is a common practice among compliance tools.

To access the template, navigate toWPForms » Add New.

Then, type “Right to Erasure” into the search box.

Click ‘Use Template’ when the template is displayed, and it will open in the WPForms editor.

Adjust the form as needed. The left sidebar shows available elements, while the right side displays a real-time preview.

To modify any field, simply click it in the preview area. You can then modify the label, guidelines, or field category using the left sidebar.

After customizing your form, click ‘Save’.

To embed the form, open the page/post editor, add a WPForms block, and select the saved form.

After that, go ahead and publish or update the page like you normally would.

Once your form is live, make sure it’s easy to find. I recommend linking to it from your privacy policy or embedding it directly on that page.

WPForms also includes an entry management system. You can use it to view and filter submissions, which makes it easy to track and respond to deletion requests.

To view entries, go to WPForms » Entries in your dashboard.

Simply find your data erasure form and click it. 

You’ll then see all the ‘delete data’ requests you’ve received.

Once someone requests deletion, WordPress has a built-in tool to help.

Just go to Tools » Erase Personal Data in your admin dashboard.

Enter the user’s email or username, and WordPress will handle the removal process.

You can also choose to send a confirmation email once the data has been erased.

Handle Data Access Requests Efficiently

Under the UCPA, visitors have the right to request a copy of all the personal data your website has collected about them.

The good news is that you can support this by adding a dedicated data access form to your site using WPForms.

WPForms includes a ready-made Data Request Form template. It’s designed to collect the information you need to identify users in your records and respond to their requests.

WPForms will automatically log each submission in your dashboard.

To review them, just go to WPForms » Entries.

You can now select your data request form to view all submissions.

Then, when you receive a request, you can export the user’s data using WordPress’s built-in tools.

Go to Tools » Export Personal Data in your admin dashboard.

You can then 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.

This helps you meet UCPA’s Right to Know requirement in a secure and user-friendly way.

Support the ‘Right to Correction’

Under the UCPA, people can ask you to correct or update their personal data if it’s wrong or incomplete.

This might happen after a user reviews a copy of their data. Or they may contact you directly if their personal details have changed, like a new phone number or address.

The simplest way to handle these requests is by adding a dedicated correction form to your site.

WPForms includes a Personal Information Form template that’s perfect for this. It even has an “Update Existing Record” checkbox to help you identify correction requests.

This template includes useful fields like legal name, nickname, email address, and phone number.

If you need more fields, then you can easily customize the form in WPForms’ drag-and-drop editor.

Once the form is published, make sure that users can find it easily.

I recommend linking to it from your privacy policy or adding it to your site footer.

As requests come in, you can process them manually depending on where the data is stored.

If the information is inside WordPress, you need to go to Users » All Users and click ‘Edit’ for the relevant profile.

Go ahead and update the necessary fields.

Then, scroll down and click ‘Update User’ to save the changes.

If you store data in a third-party tool—like a CRM or email marketing platform—then you just need to log into that tool to update the user’s profile.

UCPA Compliance in WordPress: FAQs

Understanding privacy laws can feel overwhelming at first. If you still have questions about how the UCPA affects your WordPress site, then you’re not alone.

At CanadaCreate, we’re here to help you feel confident about compliance. So in this section, I’ll answer some of the most common questions we hear from our readers.

What happens if my WordPress site isn’t UCPA compliant?

If your WordPress site violates the UCPA, you could face fines of up to $7,500 per violation. You might also receive consumer complaints or trigger a regulatory investigation—both of which can damage your business and reputation.

How often should I review my site for UCPA compliance?  

Privacy laws can change over time. That’s why it’s a good idea to review your compliance at least once per year, or whenever you update how your site collects or uses data.

For the best results, you can make this part of your regular WordPress maintenance routine.

Can I use the same compliance tools for UCPA and GDPR?

Yes, a good compliance tool should address multiple privacy regulations. For example, WPConsent can help you comply with the UCPA, GDPR, the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD), Australia’s Privacy Principles (AAP), and many more international laws. 

However, it’s worth noting that every tool is unique. Having said that, it’s important to do your research to ensure you’re meeting the specific rules of each regulation.

Additional Resources for UCPA Compliance

Taking a proactive approach and continuously learning is absolutely essential for maintaining UCPA compliance over the long term. Data privacy laws can evolve over time, and staying informed is crucial for protecting both your website and your audience.

That said, I’ve collected some helpful resources you can use to continue your learning journey and keep your WordPress site compliant:

• The Ultimate Guide to WordPress and CCPA Compliance: Find out how to make your site compliant with another important privacy law: the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). 
• Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance for WordPress Websites: Is there a chance some of your visitors and users might live in Saudi Arabia? Then you may also need to comply with the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL).
• The Ultimate Guide to WordPress Privacy Compliance: Learn how to make your site comply with multiple major privacy laws, with practical tips for meeting the requirements of GDPR, CCPA, PDPL, and more.
• How to Make Google Fonts Privacy-Friendly
• How to Know if Your WordPress Website Uses Cookies
• Instructions for preventing WordPress from saving IP addresses in comment sections.
• A comprehensive, step-by-step manual to WordPress security best practices.

I trust this introductory guide to WordPress UCPA compliance clarified this vital privacy legislation. You might also be interested in our curated list of top-rated WordPress security plugins and our advice on excluding personal data from Google Analytics.

If you found this content helpful, consider subscribing to our WordPress video tutorial channel on YouTube. You can also connect with us on both Twitter and Facebook.