Want to create forms that collect personal data from EU users? If your WordPress site has visitors from EU countries, you need to make your forms GDPR compliant.
But what exactly does that entail?
In this updated guide for 2023, I‘ll break down what GDPR is, key requirements for compliance, and an easy 7-step process for making compliant WordPress forms using WPForms.
What is GDPR?
First, let‘s quickly recap what GDPR is:
- GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation.
- It is a broad EU data protection and privacy law that went into effect on May 25, 2018.
- It focuses on providing EU citizens more transparency and control over their personal data collected online.
Here are some key GDPR statistics that show why compliance matters:
- GDPR fines can be up to 4% of global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher. Fines have already topped over €1 billion since 2018 [source].
- Research shows over 60% of EU citizens are likely to stop visiting non-compliant sites [source].
- As of 2022, authorities have received over 300,000 GDPR complaints against companies [source].
Clearly, both EU visitors and regulators take GDPR seriously. That‘s why bringing your forms into compliance should be a top priority in 2023.
What is Required for GDPR Compliant Forms?
GDPR sets specific requirements for forms that collect visitors‘ personal details like name, email address, location or any other identifiers.
Your WordPress forms must meet these obligations:
✅ Obtain explicit consent to collect and store user data with an opt-in agreement
✅ Give users access to view/export their stored personal data
✅ Allow users to be forgotten by completely deleting stored personal data upon request
✅ Follow data protection best practices for security and retention policies
Fortunately, you can easily achieve these requirements using a specialized WordPress form builder like WPForms.
7 Steps to Create GDPR Compliant WordPress Forms with WPForms
I recommend using the WPForms plugin to quickly make 100% GDPR compliant WordPress forms.
WPForms is the most beginner-friendly form builder for WordPress. Over 6 million sites use it to create all kinds of forms including contact forms, surveys, application forms, and more.
It also has several purpose-built enhancements that make achieving GDPR compliance incredibly simple.
Here‘s an easy 7-step checklist:
1. Install and Activate WPForms
First, install and activate the WPForms plugin if you haven‘t already. You can use the free version with no limitations for these GDPR features.
2. Enable GDPR Enhancements
In the WPForms plugin settings, enable GDPR enhancements to unlock GDPR specific form options.
3. Add a GDPR Agreement Field
Drag and drop the special GDPR agreement field onto your form. This captures explicit user consent with an opt-in.
Customize the field label, text, description, and link it out to your privacy policy.
4. Disable Storing User Details (Recommended)
While not required, I recommend toggling the option to disable storing user IP and other unnecessary details. This further minimizes collected data.
5. Create Privacy Policy and Terms Pages
Link to complete privacy policy and terms pages from your GDPR agreement field. Make sure these pages also follow GDPR guidelines for data usage transparency.
6. Embed Form Using WPForms Block
Easily embed your compliant form onto any post, page, or widget area with the WPForms block in the WordPress editor. Alternatively, you can use the WPForms shortcode.
7. Manage Data Rights Requests
Optionally, create a separate "Data Access Request" form using WPForms. This allows users to more easily submit requests to view, export, or erase their data.
And that‘s it! These 7 steps using WPForms enables GDPR compliance for collecting user information on your WordPress site.
Recap: Benefits of Using WPForms for GDPR Forms
I recommend WPForms because no other WordPress form builder makes achieving GDPR compliance this easy:
✅ One-click GDPR agreement field to capture consent
✅ Disable user session cookies & details for minimal data collection
✅ Data export and erasures managed from one screen
✅ GDPR-specific encryption, retention policies, and more
WPForms equips beginners and experts alike with the necessary features and functionality to build compliant, professional forms in WordPress.
I hope this up-to-date guide gives you clarity on what‘s required for GDPR plus an easy route to getting your own site‘s forms compliant using WPForms in 2023. Let me know if you have any other questions!
