Corporate digital operations require increasing agility. It's no longer just about developing a refined offering and promoting it appropriately, but also about staying ahead of the competition, which is growing stronger by the day. And this trend will continue in the coming years. According to PwC estimates, the gross value of online sales this year will reach PLN 105 billion.
E-commerce is growing, but legal obligations are not disappearing
In 2026, this figure will increase by PLN 57 billion. In short, there's a lot to do to break through. In this so-called "current" environment, it's crucial to diligently fulfill legal obligations, such as those arising from the GDPR. This allows you to avoid high fines or the suspension of your advertising efforts.
GDPR in e-commerce – what do you really need to know?
GDPR for e-commerce is a topic as broad as it is difficult to grasp. Although much has been said and written about privacy policy changes and cookie-related issues recently, few businesses understand how the changes actually impact their business operations . Or at least, they should.
>> GDPR-compliant Cookie Banner. Important Information! <<
(The rest of the article can be found below the form)
Lack of this knowledge does not protect against severe consequences.
GDPR Guide for E-Commerce – What's Inside?
At Verseo, we extend a helping hand and provide an updated GDPR guide for e-commerce, which is a reliable compendium of knowledge for entrepreneurs operating in the virtual space.
We invited specialists and practitioners from the ANSWER law firm to collaborate on creating the material.
These have contained over 44 pages of key information regarding privacy and cookie policies. In the GDPR e-commerce guide, you'll learn, among other things:
- What are cookies?
- What types do we distinguish?
- How to write a privacy policy?
- What are the purposes of processing personal data?
- What are the most common legal bases in e-commerce?
Download the GDPR guide for online stores and find the answers.
If you run a business online, this is a must-have.
Frequently asked questions about GDPR in e-commerce
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is an EU regulation governing the processing of personal data. It is absolutely crucial for the e-commerce industry, as every online store collects, stores, and processes vast amounts of customer data on a daily basis (including names, surnames, delivery addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and payment data).
Every online store must have a transparent, up-to-date, and easily accessible privacy policy. This document should clearly explain to users who is the controller of their data, the precise purpose for which it is collected (e.g., order fulfillment, marketing, analytics), how long it will be stored, and to whom it may be transferred (e.g., courier companies, accounting systems, or payment processors).
According to GDPR requirements, user consent must be voluntary, informed, specific, and unambiguous. In online store practice, this means a complete ban on using pre-ticked checkboxes. Customers must independently and actively select consent. Furthermore, consent to marketing communications cannot be combined or forced with acceptance of the store's main terms and conditions.
- Privacy by design: Privacy and technical security must be implemented at the very beginning of the online store architecture, not as an optional add-on at the end.
- Privacy by default: A store's default settings must ensure the highest level of privacy. By default, a store should only collect and process customer data that is absolutely necessary to fulfill a specific order.
Buyers have extensive control over their information. They have, among other things, the right to access their data, to rectify it, to restrict its processing, and the famous right to be forgotten—that is, to request the complete deletion of their data from the store's database. The store must comply with such a request unless overriding regulations prevent it (e.g., the obligation to retain invoices for accounting and tax purposes).
Neglecting data protection poses a double threat to e-commerce. On the one hand, there are hefty financial penalties imposed by the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (UODO), which can reach up to €20 million or 4% of the previous year's total annual global turnover (whichever is higher). On the other hand—perhaps even more serious—is the permanent loss of trust and reputation in the eyes of customers, which often leads to business failure.
Summary
The above article covers the following topics:
- the dynamic development of e-commerce, growing competition in the online sales market and the importance of reliable compliance with legal obligations,
- the most important GDPR principles in e-commerce,
- content of the GDPR guide for online stores.
