Modern websites often collect and share more user data than business owners realize.
As website technologies continue to evolve, California businesses are facing increasing scrutiny over how their websites collect, track, store, and disclose consumer information. In many cases, the issue is not intentional misconduct—it’s a disconnect between what a business believes its website is doing and what the website is actually doing behind the scenes.
To help business owners, operations leaders, HR professionals, and web teams better understand these issues, we created a video series covering some of the most common website data privacy concerns affecting California businesses today.
This page serves as a central resource for that series, including educational videos, key takeaways, and practical guidance for organizations looking to better understand website compliance and data privacy considerations.
Executive Summary
- California businesses are increasingly facing website data privacy claims tied to tracking technologies, cookies, chat tools, and third-party integrations.
- Many businesses are unaware of how much user data their websites collect and share.
- Common issues include missing or outdated privacy policies, improper cookie consent mechanisms, and insufficient disclosure regarding tracking tools.
- Claims involving the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) have become increasingly common in website-related disputes.
- These issues can affect businesses of all sizes and industries—not just e-commerce companies.
- Proactive website review and ongoing compliance awareness can help businesses better understand and address potential gaps before disputes arise.
- Our video series provides a practical introduction to these issues for California business owners and leadership teams.
Why Businesses Are Facing More Website Privacy Claims
Website functionality has changed dramatically over the last several years.
Today’s websites often include:
- Analytics tools
- Marketing integrations
- Tracking pixels
- Chat features
- AI-powered communication tools
- Session replay technologies
- Third-party plugins and embedded services
While these technologies can improve user experience and provide valuable business insights, they may also collect information such as:
- IP addresses
- Device information
- Browsing behavior
- Geolocation data
- Consumer interaction history
In many situations, businesses are not fully aware of the extent of this data collection or how information is shared between platforms and vendors.
At the same time, plaintiffs’ firms are increasingly focusing on how websites collect and disclose consumer data—particularly when businesses have not clearly informed users or obtained appropriate consent before certain information is collected.
As a result, website data privacy and compliance have become an increasingly important consideration for California businesses seeking to reduce risk and maintain transparency with consumers.
In this video, Lucas Rowe, Partner at Koegle Law Group, introduces the growing wave of website data privacy claims impacting California businesses and explains why these issues are becoming more common across industries.
Who This Series Is For
This series is designed for:
- California business owners
- HR and operations professionals
- Leadership teams
- Marketing and web development teams
- Companies reviewing website compliance practices
- Organizations evaluating privacy policies and cookie consent mechanisms
- Businesses seeking to better understand evolving website data privacy considerations
Whether your business sells products online, generates leads through a service website, or simply collects visitor information through contact forms and analytics tools, understanding how your website functions is an important part of modern business operations.
What This Video Series Covers
Throughout this series, we discuss:
- Why website data privacy claims are increasing
- How tracking tools and website technologies collect user data
- What a compliant privacy policy should address
- Cookie consent requirements and common compliance gaps
- How chatbots and session replay tools may create liability concerns
- What CIPA claims are and how they relate to websites
- Common patterns among businesses facing website-related claims
- Why proactive review and compliance awareness matter
The goal of this series is not to create fear or uncertainty, but to provide practical education that helps businesses make more informed decisions regarding their websites and digital operations.
Understanding CIPA Claims & Website Tracking Technologies
One area receiving increased attention involves claims brought under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA).
Originally enacted to address unauthorized monitoring of communications, CIPA is now frequently being referenced in disputes involving website tracking technologies, cookies, analytics tools, and third-party integrations.
Businesses may face scrutiny when websites allegedly collect or share consumer data without clear disclosure or appropriate consent mechanisms in place.
Importantly, many of these issues arise not because a business intentionally violated any law, but because website technologies have become increasingly complex and interconnected over time.
Understanding how your website collects and processes information is an important first step toward evaluating potential compliance issues.
Common Website Compliance Gaps
Many website-related issues tend to arise from a few recurring situations:
- Websites that have not been reviewed or updated for many years
- New websites where compliance considerations were not fully implemented during development
- Tracking technologies operating without sufficient disclosure
- Cookie consent tools that are improperly configured
- Privacy policies that no longer reflect current website functionality
These issues are not limited to any particular industry or company size. Whether a business sells products online, schedules appointments, generates leads, or simply uses analytics software, understanding how data is collected and disclosed has become increasingly important.
Businesses benefit from periodically reviewing:
- Privacy policies
- Tracking tools and integrations
- Cookie consent mechanisms
- Chat and communication technologies
- ADA accessibility considerations
- Third-party marketing and analytics platforms
As website technologies continue to evolve, ongoing review and awareness help organizations better align their digital operations with current expectations and practices.
Prevention, Planning & Ongoing Review
At Koegle Law Group, we often remind clients that proactive compliance is generally more effective than reactive problem-solving.
Many businesses only begin evaluating their website practices after concerns have already been raised. A more sustainable approach is to periodically review how a website functions, what information it collects, and whether current policies and disclosures accurately reflect those practices.
This does not necessarily require extensive technical expertise at the outset. In many situations, an initial review can help identify whether further evaluation may be appropriate.
Watch the Full Video Series
To explore the full educational series on website data privacy and compliance for California businesses, visit our YouTube playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl3zL33QEco2fTozUf3fXPpglb2YHRT4g
This playlist includes short, focused videos designed to help business owners and leadership teams better understand:
- Website tracking technologies
- Privacy policies
- Cookie consent
- CIPA claims
- Chatbot and session replay risks
- Common compliance gaps
- Practical considerations for proactive review
Frequently Asked Questions About Website Data Privacy
What is a CIPA claim?
A CIPA claim generally refers to a claim brought under the California Invasion of Privacy Act involving allegations that a website improperly collected or shared user information without sufficient disclosure or consent.
Does my business website need a privacy policy?
Yes. Businesses that collect consumer information through their websites need to evaluate whether their privacy policies accurately describe the information being collected, how it is used, and whether it is shared with third parties.
What is cookie consent?
Cookie consent refers to providing website visitors with notice regarding tracking technologies and, in some situations, the opportunity to consent to certain data collection practices before information is collected.
Can small businesses face website privacy claims?
Yes. Website-related privacy concerns are not limited to large companies or specific industries. Businesses of many sizes may face questions regarding website data collection and disclosure practices.
How often should a website be reviewed?
Businesses need to review their websites whenever there are significant updates to functionality, tracking tools, marketing integrations, privacy policies, or applicable legal requirements. Even businesses that previously reviewed their websites benefit from revisiting these issues periodically to ensure that website functionality and disclosures remain aligned.
Can chatbots or session replay tools create compliance concerns?
Certain website communication and tracking tools may involve recording or storing user interactions. Businesses must understand how these tools function and evaluate whether disclosures and policies appropriately address their use.
Supporting Long-Term Business Stability Through Proactive Compliance
Website technologies, marketing tools, and online business practices continue to evolve rapidly. For many organizations, the challenge is understanding how those technologies operate and ensuring that website practices align with current expectations and disclosures.
At Koegle Law Group, we work with California businesses to provide practical guidance on compliance, risk management, and long-term operational stability. Our goal is to help business owners better understand evolving legal considerations, so they can make informed decisions with greater clarity and confidence.
If your organization is reviewing its website practices or would like guidance regarding website compliance considerations, our team is available to help evaluate where things stand and determine whether a deeper review may be appropriate.
👉 Learn more about our Cyber Privacy Liability Defense services, or contact Koegle Law Group to schedule a consultation and website review today.
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