FeaturesComplianceGDPR Compliance

GDPR Compliance Testing

BugBrain scans for common GDPR compliance gaps, helping ensure your application respects data privacy regulations and user rights.

What BugBrain Tests

Consent & Cookie Management

Cookie Consent Banner — GDPR requires explicit consent before tracking cookies

  • Detects missing consent banners on first visit
  • Checks for cookie category selection (required, functional, analytics, marketing)
  • Verifies “Reject All” button (not just “Accept”)
  • Severity: Critical (non-compliance can result in fines up to €20 million or 4% revenue)

Consent Persistence — User preferences must be remembered

  • Checks if user’s cookie choices are stored
  • Verifies choices persist across sessions
  • Severity: Serious

Cookie Inventory — All cookies must be disclosed

  • Detects tracking/third-party cookies
  • Verifies cookies are listed in consent banner
  • Severity: Serious

Privacy Policy & Legal

Privacy Policy Link — Privacy policy must be easily accessible

  • Detects missing privacy policy link in footer/header
  • Checks policy is current (updated within 12 months)
  • Severity: Serious (required by GDPR)

Terms of Service — Terms must be accessible and current

  • Detects missing ToS link
  • Checks visibility and readability
  • Severity: Moderate

Data Subject Rights

Profile/Account Access — Users must be able to access their data

  • Detects missing “Profile” or “Account Settings” page
  • Checks if user can download personal data
  • Severity: Critical (GDPR Article 15: Right to Access)

Data Download — Users must be able to export their data

  • Checks for “Export my data” or “Download my data” feature
  • Verifies export includes all personal data
  • Supports CSV, JSON, or other portable formats
  • Severity: Critical (GDPR Article 20: Data Portability)

Delete Account — Users must be able to request deletion

  • Detects missing “Delete my account” or “Request deletion” option
  • Checks if deletion process is clear
  • Severity: Critical (GDPR Article 17: Right to be Forgotten)

Unsubscribe/Opt-Out — Users must be able to opt out of marketing

  • Detects missing unsubscribe link in emails
  • Checks for marketing preference center
  • Verifies one-click unsubscribe works
  • Severity: Serious

Third-Party & Data Sharing

Third-Party Trackers — All external scripts must be disclosed

  • Detects Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, Hotjar, etc.
  • Flags undisclosed tracking
  • Checks if trackers require consent
  • Severity: Serious (GDPR Article 6: Legal Basis)

Data Processing Addendum (DPA) — Data processors must have a DPA

  • Checks for links to vendor/processor agreements
  • Verifies data processors are GDPR-compliant
  • Severity: Serious

Compliance Checklist

ItemStatusNotes
Cookie consent banner present☐Must appear on first visit
Consent includes “Reject All”☐Cannot force acceptance
Privacy policy accessible and current☐Updated in last 12 months
Terms of Service accessible☐Optional but recommended
User profile/settings page present☐Users can view their data
Data export/download feature☐CSV/JSON format
Delete account option available☐Users can request deletion
Unsubscribe link in emails☐One-click opt-out
Third-party tools documented☐Full vendor list
DPA in place for all processors☐Data processor agreements

Common GDPR Issues & Fixes

Issue: No Reject All Button

Problem: Cookie banner only has “Accept All” and “Customize” buttons

<!-- Before -->
<button>Accept All</button>
<button>Customize</button>
 
<!-- After -->
<button>Accept All</button>
<button>Reject All</button>
<button>Customize</button>

Issue: Missing Privacy Policy

Problem: No privacy policy link in footer

<!-- Before -->
<footer>
  <p>&copy; 2025 Company. All rights reserved.</p>
</footer>
 
<!-- After -->
<footer>
  <p>&copy; 2025 Company. All rights reserved.</p>
  <a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a>
  <a href="/terms">Terms of Service</a>
</footer>

Issue: No Data Delete Option

Problem: Settings page lacks delete account option

<!-- Add to settings page -->
<div class="danger-zone">
  <h3>Delete Account</h3>
  <p>Once you delete your account, there is no going back. Please be certain.</p>
  <button onclick="requestDelete()">Request Account Deletion</button>
</div>

Issue: No Unsubscribe Link

Problem: Marketing emails don’t include unsubscribe

<!-- Marketing email footer -->
<p>
  <a href="https://example.com/unsubscribe?email={{email}}">Unsubscribe</a>
  | <a href="https://example.com/preferences">Update Preferences</a>
</p>

What Requires Manual Review

BugBrain can detect surface-level compliance issues, but the following require manual review by your legal/compliance team:

  • ✓ Cookie consent presence (automated)
  • ✗ Cookie consent wording (legal review required)
  • ✓ Privacy policy existence (automated)
  • ✗ Privacy policy adequacy (legal review required)
  • ✓ Data export feature presence (automated)
  • ✗ Data export completeness (manual testing required)
  • ✓ Third-party trackers (automated)
  • ✗ Legal basis for processing (legal review required)
  • ✗ Data retention policies (documentation review)
  • ✗ International data transfers (legal analysis)
⚠️

Important: This automated testing covers common GDPR gaps but does not constitute legal advice. Consult with a data protection officer (DPO) or privacy attorney to ensure full GDPR compliance. GDPR violations can result in fines up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue, whichever is higher.

For Data Protection Officers (DPOs)

Export GDPR audit results for compliance documentation:

  1. Compliance Report — PDF with all violations and remediation status
  2. Audit History — Track compliance over time (monthly audits recommended)
  3. Vendor List — All third-party trackers and data processors detected
  4. Data Flow Diagram — System-generated map of data flows
  5. Incident Log — Record audit dates and findings for regulatory records

Reports are suitable for submission to supervisory authorities and for annual compliance reviews.

WCAG / AccessibilitySOC2 Compliance