The best examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce brands

Real-world examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce

Let’s start where most lawyers don’t: with actual wording you can model. Below are practical examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce that map directly to how online stores operate—product pages, checkout, email marketing, and analytics.

These are not one-size-fits-all, and you absolutely should have counsel review anything you publish. But seeing real examples makes it far easier to understand what CCPA/CPRA expects from an e-commerce privacy policy in 2024–2025.

Example of a CCPA data collection section for online stores

Every e-commerce brand needs a plain‑English table or narrative explaining what data it collects. Here’s an example of CCPA privacy policy language tailored for a Shopify‑style store:

Categories of Personal Information We Collect
In the past 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information from consumers:

• Identifiers, such as name, billing and shipping address, email address, phone number, IP address, and device identifiers.
• Commercial information, such as products viewed, items in your cart, purchase history, and discount codes used.
• Internet or other electronic network activity information, such as browsing behavior on our website, pages viewed, and clicks on our ads.
• Geolocation data, such as your approximate location derived from your IP address.
• Inferences, such as preferences and interests we infer from your purchases and browsing activity.

We collect this information directly from you (for example, when you place an order or sign up for our emails), automatically when you use our website, and from third‑party partners such as advertising networks and analytics providers.

This example of a CCPA privacy policy section works well for e-commerce because it mirrors the real data flows of a typical online shop: checkout, browsing, retargeting, and email.

Examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce data sharing and “sale” of data

The most confusing part for many store owners is the CCPA/CPRA concept of “selling” or “sharing” personal information for cross‑context behavioral advertising. If you use Meta Pixel, Google Ads, or similar tools, you need clear language.

Here’s an example of CCPA privacy policy wording focused on data sharing for ads:

How We Disclose and “Sell” or “Share” Personal Information
We disclose personal information to the following categories of third parties:

• Service providers, such as payment processors, shipping carriers, fraud prevention services, and cloud hosting providers. These companies are contractually restricted from using your information for any purpose other than providing services to us.
• Advertising and analytics partners, such as Google and Meta, that help us show you ads that may be more relevant to your interests and measure the performance of our marketing campaigns.

In the past 12 months, we have “sold” or “shared” (as those terms are defined under California law) identifiers, commercial information, and internet or other electronic network activity information to advertising and analytics partners for cross‑context behavioral advertising. We do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of consumers under 16 years of age.

For an e-commerce store running retargeting ads, this is one of the best examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce because it explicitly acknowledges the sale/share issue and ties it to ad tech.

Example of a CCPA “Right to Know, Delete, and Correct” section for online retailers

Every California-facing store needs a clear explanation of consumer rights. Here’s an example of CCPA privacy policy language tuned for an online shop that handles order history, loyalty, and support tickets:

Your California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

• Request to know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the categories of sources of that information, the business or commercial purpose for collecting, selling, or sharing it, and the categories of third parties to whom we disclose it.
• Request deletion of personal information we collected from you, subject to certain exceptions (for example, when we need the information to complete your transaction, detect fraud, or comply with tax and accounting obligations).
• Request correction of inaccurate personal information we maintain about you.
• Opt out of the sale or sharing of your personal information for cross‑context behavioral advertising.
• Limit the use and disclosure of sensitive personal information, if we collect such information, to certain permitted purposes.

You may exercise these rights by submitting a request at [link to web form] or by calling us at [toll‑free number]. We will verify your request using information associated with your account or recent interactions with us. You may also authorize an agent to submit a request on your behalf, subject to verification of the agent’s authority.

This example of a CCPA privacy policy section reflects CPRA updates that took effect in 2023 and remain central in 2024–2025: correction rights, sensitive data limits, and more formal opt‑out language.

Examples include cookie banners and “Do Not Sell or Share” links

Under CCPA/CPRA, your privacy policy and your on‑site user experience have to match. That means your examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce should align with how your cookie banner and opt‑out tools actually work.

Here is example wording you might use to describe your cookie and opt‑out practices:

Cookies, Targeted Advertising, and Your Choices
We and our partners use cookies and similar technologies to operate our website, remember your preferences, analyze traffic, and show you personalized ads. Some of these activities may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of your personal information under California law.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link in the footer of our site or by adjusting your browser settings. If you choose to opt out, we will honor your preference for this browser and device. We also recognize opt‑out preference signals, such as the Global Privacy Control (GPC), where required by law.

This is one of the best examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce that use plain language to connect cookies, targeted ads, and the “Do Not Sell or Share” requirement.

For background on consumer privacy law trends, the California Attorney General and California Privacy Protection Agency offer guidance and enforcement updates:

• https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa
• https://cppa.ca.gov/

Example of a CCPA section for loyalty programs, discounts, and price differences

If your store runs rewards programs, birthday discounts, or email‑only promotions, CCPA treats those as potential “financial incentives.” Your privacy policy has to explain how the program works and why the data exchange is reasonable.

Here’s a tailored example of CCPA privacy policy language for e-commerce loyalty programs:

Financial Incentives and Loyalty Programs
We may offer programs that provide benefits such as discounts, free products, or exclusive offers (collectively, “Programs") in exchange for your participation and the collection and use of your personal information.

When you sign up for a Program, we typically collect identifiers (such as your name and email address), commercial information (such as your purchase history), and inferences (such as your product preferences). We use this information to operate the Program, personalize your rewards, and send you relevant marketing communications.

We reasonably estimate the value of your personal information based on factors such as the revenue generated by marketing campaigns that use this information, the cost of providing Program benefits, and the impact of discounts on our margins. We consider the price and quality of our services to be reasonably related to the value of the personal information we collect through the Programs.

You can opt out of a Program at any time by following the instructions in the Program terms or contacting us at [contact information].

For e-commerce brands with heavy email and SMS marketing, this example of CCPA privacy policy language is especially relevant.

Examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce tech stacks (Shopify, WooCommerce, custom)

Your privacy policy should reflect your actual tools. A Shopify store that relies on built‑in payments and apps will look different from a custom headless build. Here are a few examples of how to describe common setups.

Example: Shopify store using payment processors and apps

Service Providers and Third‑Party Apps
We use Shopify to power our online store. You can read more about how Shopify uses your personal information here: https://www.shopify.com/legal/privacy. We also use third‑party apps to support functions such as payment processing, shipping, reviews, customer support, and marketing.

These service providers may collect, use, and disclose personal information in order to perform services on our behalf, such as processing your payments, fulfilling your orders, delivering packages, sending emails, or providing analytics. We require these service providers to protect your personal information and use it only for the services they provide to us.

Example: WooCommerce store with self‑hosted analytics

Hosting and Analytics
Our website is hosted on servers located in the United States. We use WooCommerce to manage our online store and may use self‑hosted analytics tools to understand how visitors use our site. These tools may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, pages viewed, and the date and time of your visit.

We use this information to maintain the security and performance of our website, understand which products and pages are most popular, and improve our services.

These are practical examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce that map cleanly to common technology stacks without over‑promising on security or data handling.

2024–2025 trends shaping CCPA privacy policies for e-commerce

If you’re updating your policy now, you’re drafting in a different environment than in 2020. A few trends to keep in mind as you adapt these examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce:

• Stronger enforcement focus on dark patterns. The California regulators are paying closer attention to confusing opt‑out flows and pre‑checked boxes. If your cookie banner or checkout flow nudges users to give up more data, your policy language about “choices” and “control” needs to match the reality of the interface.
• Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals. Regulators expect sites to honor browser‑level opt‑out signals like GPC, especially for California users. If you claim in your policy that you recognize GPC, your developers need to actually implement it.
• CPRA data minimization and purpose limitation. While CCPA always cared about transparency, CPRA amendments emphasize collecting only what you need and using it for stated purposes. That means your examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce should avoid vague language like “for any business purpose we choose” and instead tie data use to specific activities.
• Convergence with other privacy regimes. Many U.S. states now have their own privacy laws, and the EU’s GDPR still applies to many international merchants. When you build on these examples, consider aligning your CCPA policy with a broader, multi‑state privacy strategy.

For broader privacy law context, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission publishes guidance on data security and deceptive practices that often informs enforcement expectations:
https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/privacy-security

Putting it together: how to use these examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce

So how do you actually turn these snippets into a working policy for your store?

Start by mapping your data flows. List what you collect at each stage: browsing, account creation, checkout, email signup, support. Then, compare that list to the examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce above. You’ll quickly see which sections you need:

• Data collection and sources
• Use of personal information
• Disclosure, sale, and sharing
• Rights and request mechanisms
• Cookies, advertising, and opt‑outs
• Loyalty programs and incentives
• Service providers and platforms

Next, customize the language to match your tech stack and business model. If you don’t run a loyalty program, don’t copy that section. If you do use sensitive personal information (for example, health‑related products, or precise geolocation), you’ll need a stronger explanation of how you limit its use.

Finally, have a qualified attorney review the draft. These examples include realistic wording that many e-commerce brands use, but your risk profile, product category, and audience may require additional disclosures or different phrasing.

FAQ: examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce

Q1: Can I just copy an example of a CCPA privacy policy from another e-commerce site?
You can look at other stores for inspiration, but copying a policy word‑for‑word is risky. Their tech stack, ad partners, and data practices are almost certainly different from yours. Use real examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce as a starting point, then tailor the language to your own data flows and have a lawyer review it.

Q2: What are the best examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce to study?
Look at brands that sell nationally, have California customers, and are transparent about cookies and targeted ads. Mid‑size DTC brands using Shopify or WooCommerce often publish clear, modern policies that acknowledge “sale” and “sharing” for advertising, explain loyalty programs, and provide easy web forms for CCPA requests. Use those as benchmarks, not as copy‑paste text.

Q3: Do I need a “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link if I only use basic analytics?
If you only use strictly necessary cookies and non‑sharing analytics (for example, properly configured first‑party analytics that don’t feed ad networks), you may not be “selling” or “sharing” data under CCPA. But many e-commerce stores quietly use retargeting pixels and lookalike audiences, which usually qualify. That’s why it’s important to review your ad tools and then align your practices with the examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce in this guide.

Q4: How often should I update my CCPA privacy policy for my online store?
At minimum, review it annually. In practice, you should revisit it whenever you adopt new tracking technologies, launch a loyalty program, expand internationally, or change your ad partners. Regulators expect your policy to reflect your current practices, not last year’s stack.

Q5: Where can I find more guidance on CCPA compliance?
The California Attorney General’s CCPA page and the California Privacy Protection Agency both publish regulations, FAQs, and enforcement actions that show how the law is being interpreted in the real world. You can start with: https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa and https://cppa.ca.gov/. Use those resources alongside the examples of CCPA privacy policy templates for e-commerce in this article to shape a policy that actually fits your business.