For years, cookie consent banners were viewed as little more than a compliance checkbox. Today, they have become an important part of protecting your agency from a growing legal risk.
A wave of lawsuits is targeting businesses whose websites collect visitor data before obtaining consent. While many agency owners assume this only affects companies based in California, that’s no longer the case. California’s privacy laws can apply to any business whose website is visited by California residents—including home care agencies located anywhere in the country.
The concern centers around common website tools that many agencies rely on every day. Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, live chat platforms, call tracking, and other third-party scripts may begin collecting visitor information the moment someone lands on your website. If these technologies activate before a visitor has agreed to your cookie policy, they could expose your business to legal claims under California’s wiretapping laws.
We’re already seeing this happen within the home care industry. These cases are often identified through automated software that scans websites for non-compliant tracking technologies.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce your risk:
- Audit your website to identify all tracking scripts, analytics platforms, marketing pixels, and third-party plug-ins that may be collecting visitor information.
- Verify that your cookie consent solution requires visitors to actively opt in before any non-essential tracking technologies begin running.
- Review live chat tools and other communication features to ensure visitors are notified if conversations are processed or recorded by third-party providers.
- Update your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use so they accurately reflect your current data collection and privacy practices.
Privacy regulations continue to evolve, and website compliance is becoming an increasingly important part of digital marketing. Taking the time to review your website now may help prevent significant legal headaches later.
Not sure whether your website is collecting visitor data before consent is given? The corecubed team can evaluate your current setup and identify opportunities to reduce risk while maintaining the valuable marketing insights your agency depends on.
If you’re interested in help with your website’s cookie consent setup, complete our brief form and a member of our team will reach out to discuss your needs.