What are the best practices for implementing a secure contact form solution in PHP that complies with German data protection laws?

To implement a secure contact form solution in PHP that complies with German data protection laws, it is important to ensure that the form collects only necessary data, encrypts sensitive information, and securely stores and processes the data. Additionally, implementing measures such as using HTTPS, validating input data, and implementing CSRF protection can enhance the security of the contact form.

<?php
// Implementing a secure contact form solution in PHP

// Validate input data
$name = filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'name', FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);
$email = filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'email', FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL);
$message = filter_input(INPUT_POST, 'message', FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING);

// Encrypt sensitive information
$encrypted_message = openssl_encrypt($message, 'AES-256-CBC', 'secret_key', 0, 'iv');

// Store and process the data securely
// Insert the data into the database using prepared statements
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("INSERT INTO contact_form (name, email, message) VALUES (?, ?, ?)");
$stmt->execute([$name, $email, $encrypted_message]);

// Redirect to a thank you page
header('Location: thank_you.php');
exit;
?>