The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a mandatory European privacy regulation that requires any organization processing, storing, or hosting the personal data of EU residents to comply with stringent data privacy laws. Ezoic provides a suite of tools, centered around our Consent Management, to help publishers navigate these requirements efficiently while ensuring their site remains monetized and compliant.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Publishers should consult with legal counsel regarding their specific data collection requirements.

How Ezoic Facilitates GDPR Compliance

Ezoic has implemented several server-level and front-end features to protect user data and assist publishers:

• IP Address Encryption: Ezoic automatically encrypts IP addresses to safeguard the personal data of your visitors.

• User Tracking Control: Ezoic provides a data lookup tool that allows users to view or request the deletion of any personal information collected during their browsing session.

• Geotargeted Consent: Using IP geolocation, Ezoic ensures that consent modals are only displayed to residents within the EU, preventing unnecessary friction for global visitors.

Consent Management Functionality

Ezoic Consent Management is a free, Google-compliant tool that helps you manage cookie permissions. It is located in your dashboard under Settings > Privacy.

Key Features:

• Automatic IP Mapping: The system identifies a visitor's location and automatically adjusts tracking or substitutes ad tags based on their specific consent response.

• Dynamic Modal Display: The consent prompt is shown only to EU residents. You can customize the design, colors, and text of this modal under GDPR Dialogue Features to match your site's aesthetics.

• Cookie Categorization: Ezoic identifies cookies being dropped on your site and allows you to categorize them into five essential groups:

  1. Necessary: Essential for site function (cannot be disabled).

  2. Preferences: Stores user-specific settings like language.

  3. Statistics: Anonymous data used for performance analytics.

  4. Marketing: Used to track user activity for relevant, interest-based advertising.

  5. Unclassified: Cookies awaiting manual categorization.

Using Third-Party Consent Tools

If you already use a third-party Consent Management Provider (CMP), Ezoic allows for seamless integration. The CMP must be approved by the IAB. 

• Linking Your CMP: Within the settings, select the Third-Party CMP Instructions tab.

• The _ezconsent Variable: To ensure Ezoic knows whether to display ads, your third-party CMP must communicate the visitor’s decision to Ezoic via the _ezconsent variable. Full instructions can be found in your Privacy Dashboard.

• Technical Setup: The integration script must be implemented after your modal is displayed to accurately capture the user's choice.

Regular Audits

Periodically review the Cookies tab in your dashboard to categorize any newly discovered "Unclassified" cookies.

Transparency

Use the About Cookies section in your modal to explain why data is being collected. Transparency builds user trust and can improve consent rates.

Preview Function

Always use the preview function in the Dialog Content tab to verify that your modal appears correctly and is easy for users to navigate.

Single Tool Policy

Do not run multiple consent management tools simultaneously, as this can cause technical conflicts and a poor user experience.

Who will see the consent modal?

The modal only appears for visitors identified as EU residents via their IP address. Non-EU visitors will continue to experience the site without the prompt.

Is there a fee for Ezoic’s Consent Management?

No. It is a free tool provided to all Ezoic publishers to ensure the ecosystem remains compliant and safe for advertisers.

What happens if a user denies marketing cookies?

If a user selects "Allow Necessary Cookies" only, Ezoic will display contextual ads based on the page content rather than personalized ads based on user behavior.

Where can users go to manage their personal data with Ezoic?

Users can visit the Ezoic User Data Protection portal to view or request the deletion of their data.