Building a GDPR-Compliant Website in 2026
Privacy is no longer optional but a legal obligation. Here is how to build a website that complies with GDPR without ruining your user experience.
<p>The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been in effect since 2018, but in 2026 enforcement is stricter than ever. Data protection authorities are issuing high fines to businesses that do not comply. At the same time, consumers have become more critical about their privacy. A GDPR-compliant website is not just a legal necessity — it is also a way to build trust with your visitors.</p>
<h2>The cookie banner: more than a formality</h2>
<p>The cookie banner is the first thing visitors see. It is your chance to be transparent about how you handle their data. A good cookie banner offers three options: accept all cookies, only necessary cookies, and an option to customize preferences. The banner must appear before non-essential cookies are placed.</p>
<p>Avoid dark patterns: make the "Reject" button just as prominent as the "Accept" button. Do not use pre-checked checkboxes. Make it easy to change preferences later. In Webey you can use the Cookie Consent block that automatically complies with these guidelines and blocks scripts until consent is given.</p>
<h2>Consent management: knowing what you collect</h2>
<p>Consent management goes beyond the cookie banner. You must track which visitor gave consent when and for what. This is your evidence in case of an audit. Categorize your cookies into groups: necessary (always active), analytical (for statistics), functional (for extra features), and marketing (for advertisements).</p>
<p>Ensure that your tracking scripts — Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, marketing tools — only load after the visitor has given consent for that specific category. This requires a technical implementation that conditionally loads scripts based on the consent status.</p>
<h2>A privacy policy people can understand</h2>
<p>Your privacy policy is a legal document but does not have to be an unreadable legal piece. Write in understandable language. Explain what data you collect, why you do it, how long you store it, and with whom you share it. Provide contact details for privacy questions and explain how visitors can exercise their rights: access, correction, and deletion.</p>
<p>Use headings and short paragraphs so visitors can quickly find what they are looking for. Include the date of the last update so it is clear how current the document is. Link to your privacy policy from your footer and from every form.</p>
<h2>Forms and data processing</h2>
<p>Every form on your website processes personal data. That means you need a legal basis — usually consent or legitimate interest. Add a checkbox to each form where the visitor agrees to your privacy policy. Only store the data you truly need and delete it when the purpose has been achieved.</p>
<p>Implement a data retention policy: how long do you keep contact details of leads who never became customers? A period of two years is generally reasonable, but adjust this to your industry and situation. Document your policy and execute it consistently.</p>
<h2>Practical checklist for your website</h2>
<p>Check your website against these points: cookie banner with real choices appears before loading non-essential cookies; scripts only load after consent; privacy policy is current, complete, and findable; forms have a consent checkbox; you know what data you store and for how long; you can delete data upon request; SSL certificate is active; you have a processing register. Do you meet all these points? Then you are well on your way to a GDPR-compliant website.</p>