Five privacy notices that got us writing about them

Let’s face it: reading privacy notices is about as exciting as watching your phone charge. But we’re on a mission to spice up those lame-ass, legally (lethally) boring documents with humour, sarcasm, and a whole lot of #funlaw.

Why? Because it’s the right thing to do, and we don’t want your readers to flatline because they’re bored shitless. It also impresses your customers when they understand their rights and can make informed decisions without needing a law degree or asking Google Translate to tell them what you mean.

Here are five of our favourite privacy notices that got it right. Buckle up; it’s about to get compliant.

This privacy policy is a thing of beauty. It’s cute, it’s easy on the eyes, and it’s fun to read, 🤌 ‘Chef’s kiss’. Want to know what really won us over? It’s Fernando, the fish. Don’t tell anyone, but we’re just about ready to adopt him as our office pet (sorry, Morticia). Their interactive site is like a playground for our overactive imagination, and just when you think it can’t get any better, they hit you with, “If that’s too much fun, you can read the plain version of our policy here”. Too much fun? Never!!! This policy is so engaging it actually makes us want to read it. Who knew privacy could be this entertaining? August gets it, privacy can be fun, and we’re totally here for it.

In Lego World, Captain Safety tells children how to stay safe online in a fun video – he even invites their parents to come and listen. We love the stranger danger training vibe they’re giving off in this policy, which is clear and tailored to their audience – kids! They take privacy as seriously as their Lego building instructions. Captain Safety, you did it again.

Is it a bird? Is it a musical instrument? No, it’s Juro’s privacy notice, which uses an amazing accordion-style pattern. These nifty collapsible sections let you see the important stuff first instead of drowning in a sea of text and losing the will to live. If you’re wondering where to find this pattern example, check it out in the World CC Contract design pattern library.

This notice is like the no-nonsense friend who tells you, “Yes, you do look terrible in those jeans”. It’s clear, concise, and devoid of legal fluff. We love the blocky, straightforward layout with just the facts. And those “learn more” sections? Yes, please. They let you get the highlights without skipping through the extras unless you want to. There’s even a progress tracker at the top of the page to show how long you must endure reading through it before making that next cup of coffee. It’s privacy made simple for those who don’t want to waste time but still allows you to read more if you’re an overachiever.

Last but not least, the ICO’s privacy notice generator tool is technically not a privacy notice, but we thought you’d like to have a look at this cool tool. It’s like having a cheat code for compliance. It’s so easy that even your grandma, who is new to smartphones, could use it. In just a few steps, you’ll have a good skeleton of a privacy notice to dress up to your liking.

Privacy notices don’t have to be boring or full of legalese. With the right mix of clarity, plain language, eye-rolling, sarcasm and humour, they can actually be…wait for it…fun. If you want to add some flavour to your privacy notice, hit us up. We’d love to help you turn that 50-pager into something magical; after all, we might have a bit of a magician inside of us. You would never know.