Building a Privacy Testing Framework

Building a Privacy Testing Framework

A robust privacy testing framework encompasses multiple layers of validation, from unit tests that verify individual privacy controls to end-to-end tests that validate complete user journeys. The framework must test not just the presence of privacy features but their effectiveness in protecting user data across all scenarios. This includes testing consent flows, data minimization, retention policies, third-party integrations, and user rights implementations.

The foundation of privacy testing is understanding what needs to be tested. This includes consent collection and enforcement, data collection minimization, purpose limitation enforcement, retention and deletion mechanisms, user rights request handling, third-party data sharing controls, cross-border data transfer restrictions, and privacy notices accuracy. Each area requires specific test strategies and validation approaches.

// Comprehensive privacy testing framework
class PrivacyTestFramework {
  constructor() {
    this.testSuites = {
      consent: new ConsentTestSuite(),
      dataMinimization: new DataMinimizationTestSuite(),
      retention: new RetentionTestSuite(),
      userRights: new UserRightsTestSuite(),
      thirdParty: new ThirdPartyTestSuite(),
      crossBorder: new CrossBorderTestSuite()
    };
    
    this.validators = new PrivacyValidators();
    this.monitors = new PrivacyMonitors();
  }

  async runFullPrivacyAudit() {
    const results = {
      timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
      suites: {},
      summary: {
        passed: 0,
        failed: 0,
        warnings: 0
      }
    };

    // Run each test suite
    for (const [name, suite] of Object.entries(this.testSuites)) {
      console.log(`Running ${name} test suite...`);
      const suiteResults = await suite.run();
      results.suites[name] = suiteResults;
      
      // Update summary
      results.summary.passed += suiteResults.passed;
      results.summary.failed += suiteResults.failed;
      results.summary.warnings += suiteResults.warnings;
    }

    // Generate compliance report
    results.report = this.generateComplianceReport(results);
    
    return results;
  }

  generateComplianceReport(results) {
    return {
      complianceLevel: this.calculateComplianceLevel(results),
      criticalIssues: this.identifyCriticalIssues(results),
      recommendations: this.generateRecommendations(results),
      regulatoryAlignment: {
        gdpr: this.assessGDPRCompliance(results),
        ccpa: this.assessCCPACompliance(results),
        other: this.assessOtherRegulations(results)
      }
    };
  }
}

// Consent testing suite
class ConsentTestSuite {
  async run() {
    const tests = [
      this.testConsentCollection(),
      this.testConsentGranularity(),
      this.testConsentWithdrawal(),
      this.testConsentPersistence(),
      this.testConsentEnforcement(),
      this.testConsentAuditTrail()
    ];

    const results = await Promise.all(tests);
    return this.aggregateResults(results);
  }

  async testConsentCollection() {
    const testCases = [
      {
        name: 'Consent banner appears for new users',
        test: async () => {
          const session = await this.createCleanSession();
          const page = await session.navigate('/');
          return await page.waitForElement('.consent-banner', { timeout: 5000 });
        }
      },
      {
        name: 'Consent requires explicit action',
        test: async () => {
          const session = await this.createCleanSession();
          const page = await session.navigate('/');
          
          // Check no pre-checked boxes
          const checkboxes = await page.findAll('input[type="checkbox"]');
          const prechecked = checkboxes.filter(cb => cb.checked && !cb.disabled);
          
          return prechecked.length === 0;
        }
      },
      {
        name: 'Reject all option is equally prominent',
        test: async () => {
          const session = await this.createCleanSession();
          const page = await session.navigate('/');
          
          const acceptBtn = await page.findElement('[data-action="accept-all"]');
          const rejectBtn = await page.findElement('[data-action="reject-all"]');
          
          // Compare visual prominence
          const acceptStyles = await acceptBtn.getComputedStyles();
          const rejectStyles = await rejectBtn.getComputedStyles();
          
          return this.compareProminence(acceptStyles, rejectStyles);
        }
      }
    ];

    return await this.runTestCases(testCases);
  }

  async testConsentEnforcement() {
    const testCases = [
      {
        name: 'Analytics scripts blocked without consent',
        test: async () => {
          const session = await this.createCleanSession();
          
          // Reject analytics consent
          await session.setConsent({ analytics: false });
          
          // Navigate and check for analytics
          const page = await session.navigate('/');
          const analyticsLoaded = await page.evaluate(() => {
            return typeof window.ga !== 'undefined' || 
                   typeof window.gtag !== 'undefined';
          });
          
          return !analyticsLoaded;
        }
      },
      {
        name: 'Marketing cookies not set without consent',
        test: async () => {
          const session = await this.createCleanSession();
          await session.setConsent({ marketing: false });
          
          const page = await session.navigate('/');
          await page.wait(2000); // Wait for potential cookie setting
          
          const cookies = await session.getCookies();
          const marketingCookies = cookies.filter(c => 
            this.isMarketingCookie(c.name)
          );
          
          return marketingCookies.length === 0;
        }
      },
      {
        name: 'Third-party requests blocked without consent',
        test: async () => {
          const networkMonitor = new NetworkMonitor();
          const session = await this.createCleanSession();
          
          await session.setConsent({ thirdParty: false });
          
          const page = await session.navigate('/');
          const requests = await networkMonitor.getRequests();
          
          const thirdPartyRequests = requests.filter(r => 
            this.isThirdPartyDomain(r.url)
          );
          
          return thirdPartyRequests.length === 0;
        }
      }
    ];

    return await this.runTestCases(testCases);
  }
}

// Data minimization testing
class DataMinimizationTestSuite {
  async run() {
    const tests = [
      this.testFormFieldNecessity(),
      this.testDataCollectionJustification(),
      this.testProgressiveDataCollection(),
      this.testDataScopeCreep()
    ];

    const results = await Promise.all(tests);
    return this.aggregateResults(results);
  }

  async testFormFieldNecessity() {
    const forms = await this.scanForForms();
    const results = [];

    for (const form of forms) {
      const fields = await this.extractFormFields(form);
      
      for (const field of fields) {
        const result = {
          form: form.name,
          field: field.name,
          required: field.required,
          justified: await this.isFieldJustified(field, form.purpose),
          recommendation: null
        };

        if (!result.justified) {
          result.recommendation = `Consider removing ${field.name} or making it optional`;
        }

        results.push(result);
      }
    }

    return {
      passed: results.filter(r => r.justified).length,
      failed: results.filter(r => !r.justified).length,
      details: results
    };
  }

  async isFieldJustified(field, formPurpose) {
    const justificationRules = {
      registration: {
        necessary: ['email', 'password'],
        optional: ['name', 'username'],
        unnecessary: ['phone', 'address', 'birthdate', 'gender']
      },
      checkout: {
        necessary: ['email', 'shippingAddress', 'paymentMethod'],
        optional: ['phone'],
        unnecessary: ['birthdate', 'gender']
      },
      newsletter: {
        necessary: ['email'],
        optional: ['name', 'interests'],
        unnecessary: ['phone', 'address', 'birthdate']
      }
    };

    const rules = justificationRules[formPurpose] || {};
    
    if (rules.necessary?.includes(field.name)) {
      return true;
    }
    
    if (rules.unnecessary?.includes(field.name) && field.required) {
      return false;
    }
    
    // Optional fields are justified if actually optional
    if (rules.optional?.includes(field.name)) {
      return !field.required;
    }
    
    // Unknown fields need manual review
    return null;
  }
}

// User rights testing
class UserRightsTestSuite {
  async run() {
    const tests = [
      this.testAccessRequestFlow(),
      this.testDeletionRequestFlow(),
      this.testPortabilityRequestFlow(),
      this.testRequestAuthentication(),
      this.testRequestTimelines(),
      this.testDataCompleteness()
    ];

    const results = await Promise.all(tests);
    return this.aggregateResults(results);
  }

  async testAccessRequestFlow() {
    const testUser = await this.createTestUser();
    
    // Submit access request
    const requestResult = await this.submitAccessRequest(testUser);
    assert(requestResult.success, 'Access request submission failed');
    
    // Verify authentication required
    const authRequired = await this.checkAuthenticationRequired(requestResult.requestId);
    assert(authRequired, 'Access request did not require authentication');
    
    // Complete authentication
    await this.completeAuthentication(testUser, requestResult.requestId);
    
    // Wait for processing
    const report = await this.waitForCompletion(requestResult.requestId, {
      maxWait: 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000 // 30 days
    });
    
    // Verify report completeness
    const validation = await this.validateAccessReport(report, testUser);
    
    return {
      passed: validation.complete,
      issues: validation.issues,
      timeline: report.processingTime
    };
  }

  async validateAccessReport(report, user) {
    const validation = {
      complete: true,
      issues: []
    };

    // Check required sections
    const requiredSections = [
      'personalData',
      'processingActivities',
      'thirdPartySharing',
      'retentionPeriods',
      'dataSource'
    ];

    for (const section of requiredSections) {
      if (!report[section]) {
        validation.complete = false;
        validation.issues.push(`Missing section: ${section}`);
      }
    }

    // Verify data matches known test data
    if (report.personalData?.email !== user.email) {
      validation.complete = false;
      validation.issues.push('Email mismatch in report');
    }

    // Check data format
    if (report.format !== 'machine-readable') {
      validation.issues.push('Report not in machine-readable format');
    }

    return validation;
  }

  async testDeletionRequestFlow() {
    const testUser = await this.createTestUser();
    
    // Create some test data
    await this.generateUserActivity(testUser);
    
    // Submit deletion request
    const deletion = await this.submitDeletionRequest(testUser);
    
    // Wait for completion
    const result = await this.waitForCompletion(deletion.requestId);
    
    // Verify deletion
    const verificationResults = await this.verifyDeletion(testUser);
    
    return {
      passed: verificationResults.allDeleted,
      retained: verificationResults.retained,
      issues: verificationResults.issues
    };
  }

  async verifyDeletion(user) {
    const checks = {
      allDeleted: true,
      retained: [],
      issues: []
    };

    // Check primary database
    const dbCheck = await this.checkDatabase(user.id);
    if (dbCheck.found) {
      checks.allDeleted = false;
      checks.retained.push('Primary database');
    }

    // Check analytics systems
    const analyticsCheck = await this.checkAnalytics(user.id);
    if (analyticsCheck.found) {
      checks.allDeleted = false;
      checks.retained.push('Analytics system');
    }

    // Check backups (should be scheduled for deletion)
    const backupCheck = await this.checkBackups(user.id);
    if (backupCheck.found && !backupCheck.deletionScheduled) {
      checks.allDeleted = false;
      checks.issues.push('Backups not scheduled for deletion');
    }

    // Check logs (should be anonymized)
    const logCheck = await this.checkLogs(user.id);
    if (logCheck.identifiable) {
      checks.allDeleted = false;
      checks.issues.push('Logs contain identifiable information');
    }

    return checks;
  }
}