Why You Need Recurring Website Checks Against Regulations
Privacy Enforcement

Why You Need Recurring Website Checks Against Regulations

Websites have evolved far beyond their early role as static information hubs or online brochures. Today, they function as dynamic data collection engines that can capture everything from user behavior and browsing patterns to geolocation, device fingerprints, and personal identifiers. Behind the scenes, layers of third-party scripts, tracking pixels, analytics tools, and embedded services continuously collect and transmit user data, often in real time.  

Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide have, therefore, ramped up their scrutiny to protect consumer privacy rights. Laws globally have set strict standards on how personal data must be handled with transparency, user consent, and clear disclosure of data practices. 

Navigating this complex landscape requires more than manual checks, which often lack in nuance and frequency. A Compliance advisor tool can become essential in this situation by helping organizations cope up evolving requirements. 

The Legal Wake-Up Calls 

Several high-profile cases have drawn a bright red circle around the risks of website non-compliance, serving as unmistakable wake-up calls for businesses across industries. The following cases highlight just how costly and damaging privacy violations can be, not only in terms of financial penalties but also in reputation and customer trust: 

  • Etsy: In July 2025, online marketplace Etsy was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging violations of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). The complaint claims that Etsy used third-party pixel tracking technologies from companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft to collect detailed user data without proper consent. The collected information allegedly included device type, browsing behavior, IP address, and location data, functioning like illegal “pen registers” or “trap and trace” devices under California law.
  • FanDuel: In July 2024, sports betting operator FanDuel faced a class action lawsuit in California alleging violations of the state’s Trap and Trace Law. The lawsuit claims that FanDuel employed TikTok’s “fingerprinting” software to collect personal data from website visitors without their consent. This data collection purportedly began immediately upon a user’s visit, prior to any cookie consent, and included information such as device type, browser details, and IP address.
  • Todd Snyder: In March 2025, fashion retailer Todd Snyder was fined for technical violations of the CCPA. The company failed to provide consumers with clear and easy-to-use mechanisms to opt out of the sale of their personal information, as required by the law. 

Navigating the Complexity of Privacy Regulations 

One of the most common themes in enforcement actions is this: the organization didn’t realize it was out of bounds. Scripts get added to websites by marketing teams. Pixels are embedded to measure ad performance. Web fonts or live chat tools send requests to third parties. All of this — if not properly disclosed, categorized, or user-controllable — can become a compliance issue overnight. 

Here’s what often slips through the cracks: 

  • Third-party trackers firing before consent is obtained 
  • Inaccurate cookie categorizations (e.g., labeling marketing cookies as “necessary”) 
  • Unmonitored code changes on live sites 
  • Missing disclosures in privacy policies 
  • Inadequate opt-out or preference management 

The bottom line: Websites evolve faster than most privacy programs can track. 

Regulators Are Watching – And So Are Consumers 

It’s not just enforcement agencies raising eyebrows. Consumers are increasingly aware of how their data is used and quicker to file complaints or initiate lawsuits. Privacy watchdog groups are running automated audits of public websites and publishing non-compliance reports. Plaintiff firms use these same tools to identify potential cases. 

One wrong script. One outdated disclosure. One overlooked opt-out request. That’s all it takes. 

Why the Truyo Compliance Advisor Module Matters 

This is where Truyo’s Compliance Advisor can play a critical role — not as a one-and-done fix, but as a proactive partner in managing website compliance. 

The module helps organizations: 

  • Identify compliance risks across their public-facing digital properties 
  • Audit site behaviors that could trigger enforcement actions (like unauthorized trackers or dark patterns) 
  • Keep disclosures aligned with real-time site functionality 
  • Provide visibility into how third-party scripts interact with user data 

While no solution can make you immune to regulatory scrutiny, the Truyo Compliance Advisor module equips your teams with the insights, monitoring tools, and risk intelligence needed to stay ahead of issues before they escalate. Because in today’s compliance climate, what you don’t know about your own website can absolutely hurt you. 


Author

Dan Clarke
Dan Clarke
President, Truyo
July 9, 2025

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