Operator of a Website or Online Service

An operator of a website or online service is the legal entity responsible for the operation and management of a digital platform, including websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, or other online services. This designation carries legal responsibilities under various privacy laws. The operator is typically the party that determines the purposes and means of data collection and processing, making them the controller under GDPR or the business under CCPA. Operators must ensure compliance with applicable privacy laws, maintain privacy policies, implement security measures, and respond to user requests regarding their data. In practice, determining the operator can be complex—it might be the website owner, the hosting company, or a parent organization, depending on who makes substantive decisions about data processing. For online services with multiple parties involved (like platforms with third-party vendors), each entity must evaluate whether it qualifies as an operator for compliance purposes. Under COPPA, being an operator triggers specific obligations regarding children's data. The operator designation also determines which jurisdiction's privacy laws apply, particularly for services accessible globally but operated from specific locations.