GDPR Compliance Guidelines for scholarships365.xyz
(As of January 2026 – scholarships365.xyz is a Pakistan-based website, but GDPR applies extraterritorially if you process personal data of EU/EEA visitors, e.g., through IP logging, analytics cookies like Google Analytics, newsletter subscriptions, or contact forms. This is common for global scholarship sites attracting European students.)Since your site likely receives visitors from the EU (and may use tools that collect personal data like IP addresses or cookies), you should treat GDPR as applicable to avoid risks. Enforcement remains strict in 2025–2026, with heavy focus on cookie consent and transparent privacy notices.1. Privacy Policy – GDPR Compliance Checklist & RecommendationsYour current Privacy Policy is a good start but needs strengthening for full GDPR compliance (especially Articles 13–14). It must be concise, transparent, in clear language, easily accessible (link in footer/header of every page), and updated regularly.Mandatory elements to include/add (for direct collection from users):
- Identity & contact details of the data controller: Scholarships365.xyz (or your legal entity name in Pakistan), full postal address if possible, email (info@scholarships365.xyz), and if you have one, your EU representative (recommended for non-EU controllers – many use services for this).
- Data Protection Officer (DPO): If you process large-scale data, appoint one (or state you don’t have one).
- Purposes of processing + legal basis for each (e.g., legitimate interests for basic analytics, consent for newsletter).
- Legitimate interests explanation (if used) – balance test: why your interests outweigh user rights.
- Categories of personal data collected (e.g., IP address, browser info, email if subscribed, approximate location).
- Recipients/categories of recipients (e.g., Google Analytics, email provider like Mailchimp/Brevo, Cloudflare).
- International transfers to non-adequate countries (Pakistan is not adequate): Mention safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or other mechanisms – most tools like Google provide this.
- Retention period or criteria (e.g., emails kept while subscribed + 6 months after unsubscription).
- Data subject rights (access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, object, withdraw consent).
- Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (e.g., in their EU country or Pakistan’s relevant body if applicable).
- Automated decision-making/profiling (state none, if true).
- Whether data is required (contractual/statutory) and consequences of not providing it.
Best practice updates for 2026:
- Add a section on international data transfers explicitly.
- Use simple language – avoid legalese.
- Link to your cookie policy/declaration (detailed list of cookies).
- State how users can exercise rights (e.g., email request to info@scholarships365.xyz – respond within 1 month).