Between GDPR, CCPA, VCDPA, and other regulations, it seemed like I needed a law degree just to run a simple WordPress site.

But after spending a lot of time helping website owners figure this out, I’ve learned that compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In most cases, just a few simple changes can protect your website and show visitors that you take their privacy seriously.

That’s why I created this ultimate guide to WordPress privacy compliance. I’ve researched dozens of laws, tested different tools, and seen firsthand what works (and what causes problems) across different WordPress websites.

Why Does Privacy Compliance Matter for Your WordPress Website?

Online privacy laws are designed to give people more control over how websites, businesses, and online stores collect and use their personal information.

“Personal information” can mean more than you think. It includes names and email addresses—but also things like browsing history, preferences, location, and even biometric data.

That’s why most WordPress websites are affected by privacy laws, even if they only collect basic data like form submissions or cookies.

Following these laws is important for two reasons:

• Avoiding legal trouble: Some laws, like the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), can issue fines of up to $7,500 per violation. Other laws impose even higher penalties, sometimes reaching millions.
• Building trust with your audience: When visitors see that you respect their privacy, they’re more likely to engage with your site, join your email list, and make purchases.

In other words: privacy compliance isn’t just a legal requirement. It’s a smart move for long-term success.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through 12 key tips for WordPress privacy compliance. After that, I’ll break down the most important privacy laws that might affect your site.

Keep reading for the ultimate checklist to comply with international data privacy laws.

12 Tips for Achieving WordPress Privacy Compliance

No single guide can guarantee full compliance with every privacy law. But these tips will give you a strong foundation. You can think of this section as your privacy checklist for WordPress.

After reading through these best practices, I recommend scrolling down to the legal section to see which laws may apply to your site.

1. Perform a Data Audit

Before you can follow any privacy law, you need to know what personal data your website collects and how it’s used.

Start by reviewing all the tools and plugins on your site that interact with visitors. These often include:

• Analytics tools (like Google Analytics)
• Contact or quote forms
• SEO and marketing plugins

Once you’ve identified those tools, take a closer look at what they do.

For each one, ask yourself:

• What data does this tool collect?
• Why do I need this data?
• Where is the data stored?
• How long is it kept?
• Is it shared with anyone else?

Be sure to document your answers. This record helps you stay organized and gives you a way to prove your compliance if you’re ever audited or asked by one of your users.

2. Collect Less Data

One of the easiest ways to improve privacy on your WordPress site is to collect less data in the first place.

Most privacy laws require you to collect only personal data that’s relevant and necessary for a specific task. This principle is known as data minimization.

Take a look at the forms, plugins, and tools you use. For each one, you should ask yourself:

• What personal information am I asking for?
• Do I truly need this data?
• Could I achieve the same result with fewer form fields or information?

If the answer is “no” or “not sure,” it’s a good idea to stop collecting that data.

This approach not only reduces your legal risk. It also makes your site feel safer and more respectful to visitors, which can improve trust and conversions.

3. Create a Privacy Policy

A privacy policy tells visitors what data your website collects, how it’s used, and whether it’s shared with anyone.

Most privacy laws require you to have a policy like this. It helps users understand how their personal data is handled, which many laws refer to as the “Right to Know.”

Thankfully, WordPress has a built-in tool to help you create a privacy policy. To access this tool, simply go to Settings » Privacy in the WordPress dashboard. 

Want more detailed instructions? We also have a complete, step-by-step guide on how to add a privacy policy in WordPress.

4. Add a Cookie Popup

Some privacy laws require you to get consent before placing cookies on a visitor’s device. This includes laws like the GDPR.

A cookie popup makes this easy. It gives visitors a clear message about the types of cookies your site uses, what data is being collected, and why. It should also give them a simple way to opt out.

And this is easy to set up with a privacy compliance plugin like WPConsent.

For example, we use WPConsent to display cookie banners and manage user choices on WPBeginner.

For step-by-step instructions, check out our full guide on how to add a cookie popup in WordPress.

5. Write a Separate Cookie Policy 

A cookie popup is important, but it’s also a good idea to create a dedicated cookie policy page. This gives visitors a place to learn more about how cookies work on your site.

Your cookie policy should include:

• The types of cookies your site uses (such as essential, analytics, or marketing)
• What each cookie does
• What personal data it collects (like IP addresses or browsing history)

To build trust, try to keep your cookie policy easy to understand. This means you should avoid technical terms or legal words that are hard to follow. 

Luckily, a tool like WPConsent can create this policy for you. After installing and activating the plugin, go to WPConsent » Settings. 

In the plugin’s settings, choose the page where you want to display the cookie policy, and add the shortcode provided by the plugin.

WPConsent will then add this policy to your chosen page. 

If you’re using WPConsent to display a cookie popup, then visitors can now access this policy directly by clicking on the dropdown.

This will reveal a link that takes them straight to your policy page.

6. Block Third-Party Scripts

Many privacy laws also apply to third-party tools like analytics, advertising pixels, and social media trackers. If you use services such as Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel, then you’re responsible for how those tools collect data.

That means you should only allow scripts from these tools to run after the user gives permission.

The good news is that WPConsent includes a built-in script blocker that helps with this. It can detect common tracking tools and stop them from loading until the visitor agrees.

Once consent is given, the script runs automatically without needing to reload the page.

This is one of the easiest ways to improve compliance with laws like the GDPR and CCPA.

7. Track and Log Visitor Consent

There’s always a chance your data handling could be questioned, especially if you’re ever audited or someone asks about their rights.

That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a clear record of user consent. It helps show that your site takes privacy seriously.

The good news is, WPConsent creates this log for you automatically.

You can check it any time by going to WPConsent » Consent Logs in your WordPress dashboard.

If someone asks for proof, just head to the ‘Export’ tab, choose a date range, and download the log as a CSV file.

You can now share it directly with the user. Additionally, having this kind of record can give you peace of mind and help protect your business if questions ever come up.

8. Provide an Easy Opt-Out for Data Sales

Some privacy laws, including the CCPA and VCDPA, require you to give users a way to opt out of having their personal data sold or shared with third-party tools.

It’s also important to know that under laws like the CCPA, ‘selling’ can also mean sharing personal data with third-party advertising or analytics partners in exchange for their services, not just for money.

The easiest way to allow users to opt out in WordPress is by adding a clear, dedicated opt-out page.

WPConsent includes a Do Not Track add-on that makes this simple.

It enables you to generate a form where users can submit their opt-out request.

Once the page is live, visitors can use the form to stop their data from being sold or shared, all without needing to contact you directly.

This creates a smoother experience for your audience and helps you stay compliant with important data laws.

For full setup instructions, see our step-by-step guide on how to create a Do Not Sell My Info page in WordPress.

9. Export and Erase Personal Data in WordPress

Privacy laws like the GDPR give users the right to access their personal data, and the right to ask for that data to be deleted.

One of the easiest ways to support these rights is by adding data request and deletion forms to your WordPress site.

This is where WPForms comes in. It’s a user-friendly form builder that lets you create all kinds of forms using a simple drag-and-drop editor.

WPForms even has a ready-made Right to Erasure Request Form template.

What if visitors want to see their data instead? WPForms also has a Data Request template.

These templates are a fantastic starting point for accepting data erasure and data access requests on your site.

For a step-by-step guide to getting started with WPForms, check out our post on how to create a contact form in WordPress. 

After adding these forms to your site, WPForms will automatically log and display all submissions in your WordPress dashboard. This makes it easy to see new requests as they come in.

You can then act on these requests using WordPress’ built-in Export Personal Data and Erase Personal Data tools.

For step-by-step instructions on how to use these powerful tools, see our detailed guide on how to export and erase personal data in WordPress.

10. Create Compliant Forms

Contact forms, quote forms, and surveys often collect personal information. That means that they also need to comply with privacy laws.

If you’re using WPForms, there’s a built-in GDPR Agreement field that helps you with this. You can add it to any form and get a user’s explicit consent to store their personal information before collecting it.

Simply drag this field into any form using the visual builder.

It will add a checkbox and consent message so that visitors can agree to how their data will be used.

Apart from the GDPR, this field helps you stay compliant with other laws that require clear consent before collecting or storing personal data.

Want a complete walkthrough? Just see our guide on how to create GDPR compliant forms in WordPress. 

11. Use Data Privacy Compliance Plugins

If you’ve been following along with this guide so far, then you already have a solid foundation for privacy compliance. But the tools you install on your website matter too.

The WordPress plugins you choose can either make compliance harder or give you built-in features that simplify the process.

Let’s look at one common example.

Tracking your visitors with analytics helps you improve your site and understand how people interact with your content. This might include tracking page views, link clicks, purchases, or time spent on each page.

But depending on your setup, analytics tools can also collect personal data—like IP addresses, geographic location, and behavioral profiles. That’s where things get tricky.

At WPBeginner, we use MonsterInsights to handle this responsibly. It includes settings to anonymize user data or disable user tracking when consent hasn’t been given.

These options help reduce your legal risk while still giving you the insights you need to grow your site.

Of course, analytics are just one part of the puzzle. Plugins like WPConsent and WPForms also help you manage cookie banners, collect data responsibly, and process requests like opt-outs and deletions.

You’ll find more options in our expert roundup of the best WordPress GDPR plugins.

12. Add a Comment Privacy Opt-in Checkbox

When someone leaves a comment on your WordPress site, they usually need to enter their name, email address, and possibly a website URL. That’s personal data, so it’s covered by privacy laws.

WordPress includes a privacy checkbox for comments by default. This gives users a chance to agree to the storage of their information before submitting a comment.

However, some themes use a custom comment form that might not include this checkbox by default.

If you don’t see the checkbox on your site, then it’s a good idea to add it manually. You can use a plugin like Thrive Comments or add some custom code to your website.

For step-by-step instructions, check out our guide on how to add a GDPR comment privacy opt-in checkbox.

Key Regulations Impacting WordPress Sites

WordPress privacy compliance often depends on which laws apply to your website, and that’s not always easy to figure out.

Some laws apply to specific locations. Others apply only if you collect a certain amount of data or meet a business-size threshold.

In this section, I’ll walk you through the most common privacy laws that affect WordPress site owners.

You don’t need to become a legal expert, but it’s helpful to know which rules you may need to consider so that you can take the right steps.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union (EU) law designed to give EU citizens more control over their personal data.

Simply put, you must get explicit, specific, and clear permission before collecting personal data from anyone living in the European Union.

You must also clearly tell EU residents where, why, and how you’ll process and store their data.

Under the GDPR, individuals also have the right to download their personal data and the “right to be forgotten.” This means they can ask you to delete their data at any time. 

For more information, our ultimate guide to WordPress and GDPR compliance is a must-read resource.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

The CCPA is a privacy law that gives California residents more control over their personal information. It allows them to see what data is collected, how it’s used, and who it’s shared with.

This law applies to for-profit businesses that meet at least one of these criteria:

• Have annual gross revenue over $25 million.
• Buy, sell, or share personal data from 100,000 or more California residents per year.
• Make at least 50% of their revenue from selling or sharing personal data.

It doesn’t matter where your business is located. If your WordPress site serves people in California and meets one of these thresholds, then the CCPA may apply.

The law also requires you to provide an opt-out for data sharing and to respond to requests to view or delete personal information.

You can learn more in our ultimate guide to CCPA compliance for WordPress.

The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) – Saudi Arabia

Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) is a privacy law that sets clear rules for how businesses can collect, use, and store the personal data of Saudi residents.

Ignoring the PDPL carries substantial risks. Fines can reach up to SAR 5 million (about $1.3 million USD) per violation, and this amount can double for repeat offenses. 

If any of your customers or users live in Saudi Arabia, then you should check out our beginner’s guide to PDPL compliance. It shows you how to navigate this important law and avoid those steep fines.

The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA)

The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) is designed to protect the personal information of Utah residents. 

Like some other privacy regulations, the UCPA’s reach extends beyond Utah’s borders. If your site targets users in Utah—for example, through marketing or services—then the law might apply, even if you’re located elsewhere.

However, don’t worry if you’re a smaller blog or website. Just like the CCPA, the UCPA is mainly aimed at larger businesses.

First, your business needs to operate in Utah or offer products or services targeting Utah residents. Next, your business must have an annual revenue of $25 million or more.

You’ll also need to meet at least one of these data thresholds: 

• Control or process the personal data of 100,000 or more Utah consumers annually.
• Get over 50% of your gross revenue from selling personal data and control or process data from 25,000 or more Utah consumers.

For more information, I recommend checking out our ultimate beginner’s guide to UCPA compliance in WordPress.

The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA)

The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) is a state-level privacy law. 

However, the VCDPA doesn’t apply to every single website. It’s another law that mainly targets big businesses.

In fact, you typically only need to comply with the VCDPA if your business meets one of these conditions: 

• You control or process the personal data of 100,000 or more Virginia consumers in a year.
• You control or process the personal data of at least 25,000 Virginia consumers and get more than 50% of your total income from selling personal data.

Our beginner’s guide to VCDPA compliance covers a lot of different tips on how you can comply with this law.

WordPress Privacy Compliance: Frequently Asked Questions

I know this is a lot to take in, especially if you’re just getting started with WordPress privacy compliance. So before we wrap up, I want to quickly answer some of the most common questions I hear from beginners.

These answers aren’t meant to replace legal advice, but they’ll help you understand what matters most when it comes to running a privacy-friendly WordPress site.

Do I need a privacy policy if my site doesn’t collect data? 

Yes, even if your site doesn’t seem to collect user data directly, it’s still a good idea to have a privacy policy.

That’s because your site may be collecting information in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. For example, your hosting provider might log visitor IP addresses, or third-party scripts could be tracking behavior in the background.

In those cases, having a privacy policy helps keep you on the safe side of the law.

It also shows your visitors that you’re being transparent, which can go a long way toward building trust.

What are the penalties for non-compliance?

Privacy laws can carry serious penalties if you don’t follow them.

Some regulations include fines of thousands or even millions of dollars. You may also be charged per violation.

For example, under the CCPA, penalties range from $2,500 to $7,500 for each affected user. That can add up fast if the issue affects a large number of people.

But money isn’t the only concern. If users find out their data wasn’t protected, they may lose trust in your site. That kind of damage is hard to repair and can lead to fewer visits, lower engagement, and lost sales.

How often should I review my website’s compliance?

It’s a good idea to review your website’s compliance at least once a year.

You’ll also want to check whenever a privacy law changes or a new one goes into effect. Staying proactive can help you catch small issues early and avoid bigger problems later.

I hope this ultimate guide to WordPress privacy compliance has helped you take the first steps towards creating a compliant site. Next, you may want to see our expert picks for the best security plugins to protect your site or our guide on how to know if your site uses cookies.

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.

The post The Ultimate Guide to WordPress Privacy Compliance first appeared on WPBeginner.

That experience led me to discover something helpful: WordPress has built-in tools made for exactly this situation. Once you know where to find them, they make handling data requests surprisingly easy.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use Export and Erase Personal Data tools in WordPress.

Whether you’re preparing for GDPR, building trust with your users, or just want to be ready for future requests, this tutorial will help you do it with confidence.

What is Personal Data?

Personal data is any information that can be used to identify a person, either directly or indirectly.

On a WordPress site, this includes obvious details like names, usernames, and email addresses.

These are often collected when someone creates an account on your website, submits a contact form, subscribes to your email newsletter using a plugin like WPForms, or leaves a comment on a blog post.

It also includes technical data like IP addresses, which can reveal a visitor’s general location. Analytics tools, comment systems, and security plugins often collect this by default.

Personal data can also include behavioral information, such as page views, session activity, or form responses that show user preferences. Even metadata—like the time someone submitted a comment or logged in—counts as personal data under most privacy laws.

All of this information can help build a profile of your users, which is why it’s important to manage it carefully.

Ready to learn how to export and erase user data in WordPress? Simply use the quick links below to jump to the section you want to read first:

How to Accept Data Export and Deletion Requests

If someone wants to access or delete their personal data, then you’ll need a simple way for them to send that request.

The easiest method is to add a form to your WordPress site that collects their name, email address, and any extra details you need to identify them.

I recommend using WPForms for this. It’s beginner-friendly and includes ready-made templates like ‘Right to Erasure Request Form’ and ‘Data Request Form’, so you don’t need to start from scratch.

WPForms includes drag-and-drop templates that make it easy to build your form without starting from scratch. You can customize the fields and publish the form in just a few clicks.

There is a WPForms Lite version that is 100% free to use. However, we’ll be using WPForms Pro in this guide because it comes with the ‘Right to Erasure Request Form’ and ‘Data Request’ templates.

First, you’ll need to install and activate WPForms Pro. If you need help, please see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once the plugin has been activated, head over to WPForms » Settings in your WordPress dashboard.

From here, the first thing you have to do is enter your license key into the ‘License Key’ field. You can find this information in your WPForms account.

That done, head over to WPForms » Add New.

Here, type a name for your form into the ‘Name Your Form’ field.

Your site visitors won’t see the name, so it’s just for your reference.

Now, you’ll need to select the template you want to use.

In the search field, start typing in either ‘Right to Erasure Request Form’ or ‘Data Request’, depending on the kind of form you want to create.

When you find the template you want to use, simply click its ‘Use Template’ button.

This will launch WPForms’ drag-and-drop form builder.

Here, you’ll see a live preview on the right and form fields in the left-hand menu.

To customize any of the template’s built-in fields, simply click to select that field. The left-hand menu will then show all the settings you can use to customize it.

Want to add more fields to your form?

Just find the field you want on the left side of your screen and drag and drop it right into your form’s live preview.

For more detailed instructions, see our tutorial on how to create a contact form in WordPress.

Once you’re happy with your form, simply click the ‘Save’ button at the top to close the form builder.

Next, open the page or post where you want to add the form that you just created.

From here, click the add block ‘+’ button.

In the popup that appears, start typing in ‘WPForms.’

When the right block appears, simply click to add it to the page or post.

Once you’ve done that, you need to open the block’s dropdown menu and select the form you just created.

You can now publish or update this page as normal to make the form live on your site.

Now, simply repeat this process to create separate forms for data access requests and data erasure requests.

How to Monitor Data Access and Erasure Requests

Once your forms are live, you’ll need a way to track incoming data request submissions from your users.

Fortunately, WPForms makes this easy by storing every form entry in your WordPress dashboard.

To find these requests, just go to WPForms » Entries.

Simply click on the form you want to review.

You’ll now see a list of submissions, including any data access or erasure requests users have sent.

To stay compliant with privacy laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), it’s important to review and respond to these requests promptly.

Now, I’ll show you how to export and erase personal data in WordPress.

How to Export Personal Data in WordPress

When someone requests a copy of their personal data, WordPress has a built-in tool that lets you export that information and send them a link to download it.

This step is required under privacy laws like the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). It’s also a good way to build trust with your users by showing them exactly what data you’ve collected from them.

To begin, you need to go to Tools » Export Personal Data in your WordPress dashboard.

From here, you’ll enter the user’s email address or username and choose how to handle the request.

At this point, you have two options: you can either create the request directly in your WordPress dashboard, or you can send the user an email asking them to confirm that they want to export their data.

Let’s explore both options.

Option 1: Request Confirmation via Email

If you want to make sure the request is genuine, WordPress lets you send a confirmation email first. This is a good option when you’re unsure about the user’s identity.

To do this, check the box next to ‘Send personal data export confirmation email.’ Then click on ‘Send request.’

The user will receive an email with a confirmation link.

They simply need to click on it.

Then, they’ll see the following message:

“The site administrator has been notified. You will receive a link to download your export via email when they fulfil your request.”

WordPress will now notify you via email.

This email includes some basic information about the user who made the request.

You can click the link in this email to go straight to the Tools » Export Personal Data screen.

Here, you’ll see the user’s request is now marked as ‘Confirmed.’

To go ahead and process this request, click on ‘Send export link.’

With that done, the user will receive an email containing a link to download their data as a ZIP file.

Now, WordPress will mark the request as ‘Completed’ in your dashboard. The request will also appear in a separate ‘Completed’ tab, along with all your other completed data export requests. 

In this way, WordPress creates a complete record of all your completed requests. This means you can prove your compliance if you’re ever audited or someone questions your privacy practices. 

With that in mind, I recommend keeping a complete log. 

However, if you want to remove a completed request at any point, just click its ‘Remove Request’ link.

Option 2: Export the Data Immediately

Alternatively, you can create a data request directly in your WordPress dashboard without sending a confirmation email first.

This is helpful if you need to process the data request immediately or if you’re confident that the person making the request is genuine.

For example, they might use an email address that’s already linked to their account or contact you through a support channel where you’ve verified their identity.

In these cases, make sure to uncheck the box next to ‘Send personal data export confirmation email.’

Then, go ahead and click ‘Send request.’ 

This creates the request in your WordPress dashboard, with the status ‘Confirmed.’

To send this person an email with a link to download their data, just click ‘Send export link.’

You can see an example of how this email looks in the previous section.

As I mentioned before, WordPress will now mark this request as ‘Completed’ in your dashboard. Once again, this is proof that you acted on the visitor’s request, which will be invaluable if you ever need to prove your compliance. 

How to Erase Personal Data in WordPress

If someone asks you to delete their personal data, then WordPress has a built-in tool that helps you do that safely.

This step is required under privacy laws like the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), and it’s a key part of staying compliant with GDPR, PDPL, and other international regulations.

The process is similar to exporting data: you create a request, optionally confirm it by email, and then erase the data from your WordPress dashboard.

To begin, go to Tools » Erase Personal Data in your WordPress admin area.

In the ‘Username or email address’ field, just type in the email address or username of the person who has asked you to delete their personal data. 

At this point, you can either send a confirmation email to the user or go ahead and create the request in your WordPress dashboard.

Option 1: Send a Confirmation Email

To start, you can ask the user to confirm that they truly want to delete all their personal data.

Erasing a user’s data is a big step, so I suggest sending this email even if the request seems genuine because it gives the user a chance to change their mind.

To request confirmation, check the box next to ‘Send personal data erasure confirmation email.’

You can then click the ‘Send request’ button.

The user will now get an email about the data deletion request with a link to confirm that they want to delete their data.

If they click this link, they’ll see a screen with this message:

“The site administrator has been notified. You will receive an email confirmation when they erase your data.”

You will now get an email confirming that the user wants to erase their data.

To fulfil this request, either click the URL in the email or head back to the Tools » Erase Personal Data screen in your WordPress dashboard. 

On this screen, you’ll see the user’s name with a ‘Confirmed’ status.

To go ahead and delete this person’s data, click on ‘Erase personal data.’

As soon as that’s done, WordPress will send the user an email confirming that you’ve removed their data.

This email also includes a link to your privacy policy, so the person can get more information if they want. 

In your WordPress dashboard, this request will now be marked as ‘Completed.’

As I’ve already mentioned, having a record of these requests will be helpful if you’re ever audited. 

Option 2: Delete the Data Immediately

Alternatively, you can create an erasure request directly in the WordPress dashboard without sending a confirmation email first. 

This is useful if you need to act on a request straight away. It can also be handy when you’re confident that the request is genuine and the user definitely wants to delete all their personal data.

For example, you might get the request through a secure, verified login area on your membership site, which confirms the user’s identity.

In that case, make sure you uncheck the box next to ‘Send personal data erasure confirmation email.’ You can then go ahead and click on ‘Send Request.’

WordPress will now create this request in your dashboard and mark it as ‘Confirmed.’

To go ahead and process this request, click on ‘Erase personal data.’

Now, WordPress will send the person an email confirming that you’ve deleted their data.

As with data exports, WordPress will mark this request as ‘Completed.’

Ensure Your Site is Fully GDPR Compliant

Exporting and erasing personal data is an important step, but it’s not the only thing you need to do to make your WordPress compliant with different privacy laws.

To fully meet privacy standards like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you’ll also want to:

• Use GDPR-friendly plugins. You need to make sure the plugins you install handle personal data responsibly. You can start with our list of the best GDPR plugins for WordPress.
• Install a privacy compliance plugin. With a plugin like WPConsent, you can display cookie consent popups, record and manage user consent, and automatically block tracking scripts before users give their consent.
• Display a detailed privacy policy and cookie policy on your website. For details, see our guide on how to add a privacy policy in WordPress.

To see all our tips, you can read our complete guide to GDPR compliance in WordPress.

Bonus Tip: Create a Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Info Page

If your website gets visitors from California or other places with strict privacy laws, then you may have extra legal responsibilities. One of those is giving users a way to opt out of having their personal information sold or shared.

The easiest way to do this is by creating a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Info” page. This gives users a clear place to make opt-out requests and helps your site stay compliant with laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Your opt-out page should include a short explanation of your data practices and a simple form where visitors can submit their request. And fortunately, it’s easy to create this page with WPConsent.

WPConsent also lets you log these requests for your records and include consent options in your cookie popup, making it a great all-in-one solution.

To see step-by-step instructions, check out our full guide: How to Create a Do Not Sell My Info Page in WordPress.

FAQs About Personal Data Management in WordPress

Knowing how to manage personal data isn’t just about legal compliance—it also helps build trust with your audience.

To make things easier, I’ve answered some of the most common questions WordPress users have about handling personal information.

I hope this guide has helped you learn how to export and erase personal data in WordPress. Next, you may want to see our expert picks of the best GDPR plugins to improve compliance, or our guide on how to keep personally identifiable info out of Google Analytics.

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.

The post How to Export and Erase Personal Data in WordPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

As someone who’s managed WordPress sites for many years, the idea of learning yet another privacy law felt like a lot. But when I dug into it, I realized it’s more straightforward than it looks.

Still, I’ve seen plenty of site owners make compliance harder than it needs to be—either by overcomplicating the process or missing simple steps.

That’s why I created this guide. I’ll walk you through the VCDPA’s core requirements step by step and share the tools I use to improve WordPress compliance without getting overwhelmed by legal jargon.

What is the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA)?

The Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA) is a state privacy law that gives Virginia residents more control over their personal data. This includes information that can identify someone directly or indirectly—like names, email addresses, IP addresses, or data collected through website forms or tracking tools.

Even if your business isn’t based in Virginia, the VCDPA might still apply to your WordPress site. What matters is whether you collect personal data from Virginia residents.

That said, the law doesn’t apply to every site. It’s mainly aimed at larger businesses and organizations.

Generally, you need to comply with the VCDPA if you:

• Control or process the personal data of 100,000 or more Virginia consumers in a calendar year, or
• Control or process the personal data of at least 25,000 Virginia consumers and get over 50% of your total revenue from selling personal data.

Keep in mind that the law also only applies to businesses or organizations operating for commercial purposes.

If your site fits one of those categories, then it’s essential to understand how the VCDPA works and what steps you need to take to stay compliant.

Why Should WordPress Users Care About VCDPA Compliance?

If your WordPress site falls under the VCDPA, then staying compliant helps you avoid potential penalties. The Virginia Attorney General enforces the VCDPA, and violations can lead to fines of up to $7,500 per incident.

Fortunately, you’ll usually receive a 30-day warning and a chance to fix the issue before any penalties are applied.

It’s also worth noting that consumers can’t directly sue you under this law. Only the Attorney General can take action, which adds a layer of protection, but doesn’t mean you should ignore compliance.

More importantly, showing that you care about user privacy helps build trust with your audience.

When visitors know you’re being transparent and responsible with their data, they’re more likely to stick around, sign up for your email newsletter, or make a purchase from your online store.

Simply put, staying compliant is not just a legal duty. It’s also a key part of building trust and achieving long-term success.

How VCDPA Affects Your WordPress Site

If your site is covered by the VCDPA, then you’re required to support several privacy rights for your visitors. That means making it easy for Virginia residents to control how their personal data is collected, used, and deleted.

As a WordPress site owner, here are the main rights you need to understand and support:

• The Right to Know: Visitors can ask what personal data you’ve collected about them.
• The Right to Correction: They can request that you fix any incorrect or outdated information.
• The Right to Opt-Out: Users can ask you not to sell or share their personal data with other companies.
• The Right to Data Portability: They can request a copy of their personal data in a format they can use elsewhere, like a ZIP file.
• The Right to Delete: Users can ask you to permanently delete the data you’ve collected about them.

Throughout this guide, I’ll show you how to support each of these rights using WordPress tools and beginner-friendly strategies.

How to Improve Your VCDPA Compliance in WordPress

VCDPA compliance may sound technical. But at its core, it’s about being transparent with your visitors and giving them control over their personal data.

As a WordPress site owner, there are practical steps you can take to meet these requirements. These include limiting how much data you collect, creating clear policies, and making it easy for users to opt out or request changes.

In this article, I will walk you through each part of the process. You can follow them step-by-step or jump to the parts that apply to your site using the links below:

Perform a Data Audit

The first step to VCDPA compliance is understanding how your website collects and stores personal data. That means reviewing the tools, plugins, and services you use—and documenting the information they gather.

To start, I recommend making a list of every WordPress plugin on your site, along with any third-party tools that interact with user data. This could include analytics platforms, form builders, or SEO tools.

Once you have that list, check what kind of personal information each tool collects. For example, if you’ve added a quote request form, you’ll want to record whether it asks for names, company details, or job titles.

To guide your audit, ask yourself:

• What personal data do I collect? This includes names, email addresses, IP addresses, payment details, and any other data submitted through forms or comments.
• Where is this data stored? Is it saved on your own server or sent to an outside service?
• Why am I collecting this information? The VCDPA says data must be “adequate, relevant, and reasonably necessary” for your stated purpose.
• How long do I keep it? You should only store personal data as long as it’s needed for its original purpose.
• Do I share this data with anyone? This includes service providers, third-party tools, or advertising networks. Be sure to note whether any of this data is used for targeted ads.

Once you’ve completed your audit, you’ll have a clear picture of what data you collect, where it’s stored, and what you need to adjust to meet VCDPA requirements.

Create a Data Compliance Record

After completing your data audit, the next step is to keep a written record of what you found. This document should explain the actions you’ve already taken to follow the VCDPA, along with any updates or fixes you made during your audit.

By creating this record, you’ll have clear proof that you take privacy seriously. That can be helpful if you’re ever audited or if someone asks about your compliance practices.

As you’ll see throughout this guide, it’s not enough to follow the VCDPA behind the scenes. You also need to be able to show that you’re doing things the right way.

Every business website is different, but I recommend running a new data audit and updating your records at least once per year.

You should also update your records any time you change how your site collects or uses personal data. For example, after installing a new plugin that collects user info, or when the law itself changes, it’s a good time to revisit your audit and notes.

Keeping this record up to date doesn’t take much time, and it’ll make compliance much easier in the long run.

Collect Less Data

The VCDPA says you should only collect personal data that’s “adequate, relevant, and reasonably necessary” to meet a specific goal.

In other words: don’t collect anything you don’t truly need.

This idea is known as data minimization. It means reviewing what you currently collect and looking for ways to reduce it. If a piece of information isn’t essential for your site to function—or for the task at hand—it’s better to leave it out.

After completing your data audit, carefully review all the information you collect. Ask yourself: “Do I truly need every single piece of information I’m asking for?”

If something isn’t necessary, remove it. The less data you collect, the easier it is to stay compliant, and the less you’ll have to manage when users make requests.

This approach also builds trust. By avoiding unnecessary questions, you show that you respect your visitors’ privacy and value their time.

Create a Privacy Policy

A privacy policy is a page on your website that clearly explains what personal data you collect, how you use it, and who you share it with.

Having a clear, up-to-date privacy policy is essential for VCDPA compliance. It helps visitors understand how their information is handled and directly supports the VCDPA’s Right to Know requirement.

To make things easier, WordPress includes a built-in tool for creating a privacy policy. You can find it by going to Settings » Privacy in your WordPress dashboard. 

Alternatively, you can use our own WPBeginner privacy policy page as a starting point. 

Just remember to change all mentions of ‘WPBeginner’ to your specific business or website name. 

Want more detailed instructions? We also have a complete, step-by-step guide on how to add a privacy policy in WordPress.

If your site already has a privacy policy, that’s great, but you’ll still need to review and update it to reflect the VCDPA.

In particular, make sure it covers the key rights your visitors have:

• Right to Know
• Right to Delete
• Right to Correction
• Right to Opt Out

You’ll also need to explain how users can act on those rights. For example, you might link to a contact form where visitors can request access to their data, or provide steps for updating their profile information.

Finally, don’t forget to keep your privacy policy up to date. This ensures it always reflects your current data practices and any changes to the VCDPA.

Add a Cookie Popup

Many websites use cookies to track user behavior, display ads, or measure analytics. If your site does this, the VCDPA expects you to inform users and give them a way to opt out.

Unlike the GDPR, which requires visitors to actively agree before data is collected, the VCDPA follows an opt-out model. That means you can often collect data by default—as long as users are told what’s being collected and can say no if they want to.

One of the simplest ways to meet this requirement is by adding a cookie popup. A good popup should explain what types of cookies your site uses, what data is being collected, and how that information is used. It should also give users a clear way to opt out.

I recommend using WPConsent for this. It’s the same plugin we use on WPBeginner to manage cookie banners and user consent.

It works well for WordPress beginners and is actively updated to follow privacy laws like the VCDPA, GDPR, and CCPA.

You can also find a free version of WPConsent in the WordPress plugin directory.

To get started, simply install and activate the plugin.

After you activate it, WPConsent will automatically scan your site for active cookies. It will then record all the cookies it finds. 

Next, WPConsent’s setup wizard will help you change how your cookie popup looks. You can adjust the layout, the text size, button styles, colors, and even add your own custom logo. 

As you make changes, WPConsent will show a live preview. This lets you see exactly how the banner will look on your WordPress website. 

When you’re happy with how everything is set up, just save your changes. The cookie banner will then appear on your WordPress website, helping you comply with the VCDPA.

For more detailed instructions, see our full guide on how to add a cookie popup in WordPress.

Write a Separate Cookie Policy 

A cookie popup is a good starting point, but it’s also smart to create a dedicated cookie policy.

This separate page gives visitors more detail about how your site uses cookies. That way, they can better understand what personal information you collect and how it’s used.

In your cookie policy, you should list all the different types of cookies you use on your site. For example, you might use essential cookies (required for your site to work), analytics cookies (to measure website traffic), or marketing cookies (for advertising).

You should also explain what each type of cookie does. For example, some cookies might track user behavior or deliver targeted ads.

It’s also a good idea to describe what kinds of personal data each cookie collects. This might include a visitor’s IP address, device type, or browsing activity.

To build trust, keep your cookie policy easy to understand. This means you should avoid technical terms or legal words that are hard to follow. Instead, use clear and direct language that anyone can read.

Once your cookie policy is written, make sure it’s easy to find. I recommend linking to it from your footer and your cookie popup, as well as your main privacy policy.

Luckily, a tool like WPConsent can do much of this for you. 

As you saw earlier, when you first install WPConsent, it automatically scans your site and identifies any active cookies.

To do this, go to WPConsent » Settings. 

In the plugin’s settings, choose the page where you want to display the cookie policy.

WPConsent will then add this policy to your chosen page. It’s that simple. 

If you’re using WPConsent to display a cookie popup, then visitors can now access this policy directly from the popup itself.

They just need to select the ‘Preferences’ button. 

From there, they can click the ‘Cookie Policy’ link. 

WPConsent will then take them straight to the correct page.

Block Third-Party Scripts

One of the most challenging things about VCDPA compliance is that it also covers external tracking tools. These include popular services like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel.

The reason for this is simple: these tracking tools often collect visitor data. Under the VCDPA, you’re responsible for managing how these third-party tools collect, store, and use that personal information.

You also need to give visitors a way to stop these tools from tracking them if they choose.

So, how do you control tracking scripts from other companies? There’s an easy answer: automatic script blocking.

The VCDPA generally allows the use of tracking tools unless a visitor opts out, especially when used for targeted advertising. But a best practice for building user trust is to block tracking scripts until the visitor opts in.

This approach goes beyond VCDPA requirements and also helps you comply with stricter laws like GDPR. With this feature, scripts won’t load until the visitor explicitly agrees.

It also provides visitors with the information they need to understand what they’re agreeing to before you collect any data. This helps you meet the VCDPA’s Right to Know rule.

Plus, you’re getting a head start on complying with other privacy laws like Europe’s GDPR, which does require opt-in consent. It’s a great way to make your website’s privacy practices strong all around. 

Fortunately, WPConsent has an automatic script blocking feature that works out of the box.

Simply activate the plugin, and it will find and block common tracking scripts automatically. This includes tools like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Facebook Pixel. Even better, WPConsent does this without breaking your site.

As soon as a visitor gives their consent, WPConsent will run the blocked script. This provides a very smooth user experience because the page does not need to reload.

Track and Log Visitor Consent

Even if you follow all the VCDPA rules, regulators might still question how you handle data or even audit your site.

If this happens, you’ll need to prove that you’re respecting your audience’s choices. That’s why it’s important to keep a detailed record of user consent.

WPConsent makes this easy by automatically logging each user’s consent. It saves all the important details, including the user’s IP address, their consent choices, and the exact date and time they made those choices.

You can see this information at any time by going to WPConsent » Consent Logs in your WordPress dashboard.

Need to share this information with an auditor or team member? You can export it from your WordPress dashboard in just a few clicks.

To do this, just click the ‘Export’ tab. Then, enter the ‘From Date’ and ‘To Date’ for the export. This creates a CSV file, ready for you to share with auditors, customers, and anyone else who needs access.

Provide an Easy Opt-Out for Data Sales

Under the VCDPA, if your site sells or shares personal data, then you must give visitors a way to opt out.

The easiest way to do this in WordPress is with WPConsent’s Do Not Track add-on. Despite its name, it gives you exactly what you need to meet the VCDPA’s opt-out of sale requirement.

To get started, go to WPConsent » Do Not Track » Configuration inside your WordPress dashboard. 

WPConsent will then guide you through the steps to install this add-on and create a ‘Do Not Track’ form. 

Once it’s active, visitors can fill out a simple form to opt out of the sale or sharing of their data.

Even better, WPConsent stores all opt-out requests directly on your website in a secure table. That way, you keep full control over sensitive data instead of depending on external services.

It also logs each request automatically, giving you built-in proof of compliance in case of an audit.

Support the ‘Right to Delete’

As I mentioned earlier, the VCDPA gives users the right to ask you to delete their personal data.

There are different ways to handle these requests, but the easiest is to add a ‘data erasure’ form to your site.

This is where WPForms can help. It’s a user-friendly form builder that lets you create all kinds of forms using a drag-and-drop editor.

When it comes to fulfilling the VCDPA’s ‘Right to Delete’, WPForms comes with a ready-made Right to Erasure Request Form template.

This provides a strong starting point, so you can add this important form to your site quickly and easily. 

After installing WPForms, you can customize the Right to Erasure Request Form template in a user-friendly editor. This makes it easy to add, remove, and change the default fields.

When you’re happy with how the form is set up, you can add it to your site using either a shortcode or the WPForms block. 

Finally, you’ll want to make sure visitors can find this form easily. I recommend linking to it from your privacy policy or even embedding the form directly on your privacy policy page.

WPForms also includes an entry management system that lets you filter form submissions and act on new deletion requests right away.

To review your entries, go to WPForms » Entries in the WordPress dashboard. 

You’ll now see all the different forms you’ve created. Simply find the data erasure form and give it a click.

WPForms will now display all your ‘delete data’ requests.

To process these requests, you can use WordPress’s built-in ‘Erase Personal Data’ tool, which lets you delete user information with just a few clicks.

To begin, go to Tools » Erase Personal Data. 

In the ‘Username or email address’ field, type in the user’s name or email.

This tool also has a ‘Send personal data erasure confirmation email’ setting. You can use it to let the user know you’ve deleted their data.

For full VCDPA compliance, you’ll also need to delete this data from any other tools or services where it’s stored.

By creating this clear process, you are making it easy for users to exercise their ‘Right to Delete,’ which is a core part of VCDPA compliance.

Handle Data Access Requests Efficiently

Under the VCDPA, visitors have two related rights: the right to access their data and the Right to Data Portability. This means they can request a copy of their personal data in a format that’s easy to use.

The good news is you can handle these requests the same way you manage data deletion.

To start, you can add a data access form to your site using WPForms. It includes a ready-made Data Request template designed to collect all the information needed to identify the user in your records.

After adding this form to your site, WPForms will automatically record and show all access requests directly in your WordPress dashboard.

That way, you can view and respond to new requests as they arrive.

To review these requests, just go to WPForms » Entries. 

Here, select your data request form. WPForms will then show all the entries for this form.

WordPress also includes a built-in Export Personal Data tool. You can use this to get all known data for any user, conveniently packaged as a .zip file. 

To create this file, go to Tools » Export Personal Data in your WordPress 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.

Support the ‘Right to Correction’

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

This might happen after a user requests and reviews a copy of their personal data. Or, some visitors may contact you directly if their information changes.

For example, they might move to a new address, get a new phone number, or want to update other details they previously shared with you.

As with the other user rights, the easiest way to comply with the VCDPA is by adding a form to your site. And once again, WPForms has a ready-made template designed for this exact task.

The Personal Information Form Template comes with a built-in ‘Update Existing Record’ checkbox. Users can check this box to show they’re sending information to update a profile you already have for them.

This means you’ll immediately know why the user submitted this form. 

This template comes with many essential fields already included, such as legal name, preferred nickname, email address, home phone, and cell phone.

However, every website stores different kinds of information, so you may need to customize the form to collect additional details.

In that case, you can simply open the template in the WPForms editor. Here, you can add more fields to the form using simple 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 your users might want to edit.

With that done, you can publish the form on your site as normal.

Don’t forget to make your correction form easy to find on your site. I recommend adding a link in important places, such as your website’s footer or privacy policy.

Remember that WPForms shows all form entries directly in your WordPress dashboard. This makes it easy to spot data correction requests as they come in.

How you update a user’s information will depend on the tools and software your site uses. For example, you might need to update a record inside your customer relationship management (CRM) app or email management software.

If the data is stored directly in WordPress, go to Users » All Users in your dashboard.

Here, find the user profile you need to update and click its ‘Edit’ link. 

You will now see all the essential information WordPress has stored for that user.

From here, you can make any necessary changes and then save the user’s updated profile.

FAQs About VCDPA Compliance in WordPress

VCDPA compliance can seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be.

To help you out, here are some of the most common VCDPA questions we hear at WPBeginner.

These answers cover the key parts of VCDPA compliance, clear up common concerns, and show you how to stay on the right side of the law.

What Is VCDPA and How Does It Affect My WordPress Site?

The VCDPA is a privacy law that gives Virginia residents more control over their personal data.

If your WordPress site handles personal data of Virginia residents and meets certain thresholds (such as processing the data of 100,000 or more consumers), then you must follow the VCDPA in order to avoid penalties. 

How Does VCDPA Differ From GDPR?

Both the VCDPA and GDPR focus on protecting personal data. However, the VCDPA applies specifically to residents of Virginia. 

It also has some unique rules not found in GDPR. For example, VCDPA generally uses an ‘opt-out’ approach for most data collection. This means you can collect data unless a user specifically tells you not to. 

Meanwhile, the GDPR typically requires an opt-in, which means you need to get the user’s clear agreement before collecting their data. 

That’s why it’s important to understand which privacy laws apply to your site.

What Should I Do If I Receive a Data Request (Like a Right to Delete Request)?

If you get a request from a Virginia resident to access, delete, or correct their personal data, you must respond as soon as possible, but in all cases within 45 days.

This period may be extended once by another 45 days when reasonably necessary, as long as you inform the consumer within the first 45-day window.

This means confirming the request, providing the requested data, and taking the correct action, like deleting that data.

Since you’re on a deadline, it’s important to have a clear process for handling these requests.

How Do Small Websites Handle VCDPA Compliance?

Smaller websites may need to comply if they meet the VCDPA thresholds for processing Virginia consumer data. This means they:

• Process the personal data of 100,000 or more Virginia consumers in a year, OR
• Process data of at least 25,000 consumers and get over 50% of their total income from selling that data.

If your site qualifies, here’s how you can start working toward compliance:

• Setting up plugins to help with privacy management, such as cookie consent tools and form plugins for collecting data requests.
• Avoid collecting unnecessary data, and stick to data minimization.
• Ensure all data collection methods follow the VCDPA rules.
• Keep your privacy and cookie policies up to date so they reflect your current practices.

Even if you’re running a smaller site, having the right tools and processes in place can make VCDPA compliance much easier and help you build trust with your audience along the way.

Additional Resources for Privacy Compliance

Complying with privacy laws isn’t a one-time task. You’ll need to continue learning and working on your site to remain in line with the law.

With that said, here are some resources to help you on that journey:

• How to Add a Privacy Policy in WordPress – This guide shows you how to create a privacy policy that meets VCDPA standards. You’ll also find tools and templates that you can use to create a privacy policy that covers all legal requirements. 
• Best WordPress Security Plugins to Protect Your Site – Our top pick of the best plugins for keeping users and their personal information safe.
• Beginner’s Guide to PDPL Compliance – Do some of your visitors or users live in Saudi Arabia? If so, then you need to comply with another important privacy law: the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL).
• The Ultimate Guide to WordPress and CCPA Compliance – While the CCPA  shares some goals with VCDPA, it has different requirements for businesses and consumer rights. This guide has all the information you need to understand those differences.
• UCPA Compliance in WordPress: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide – This resource helps you understand the Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) and how it differs from the VCDPA. 

I hope this beginner’s guide to VCDPA 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 see our guide on how to keep personally identifiable info out of Google Analytics. 

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