This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.

Understanding and complying with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is crucial for publishers who collect and store Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from their users. Ezoic's Consent Management App is a free, Google-compliant tool that helps you configure and manage cookie permissions to ensure compliance with GDPR and CCPA regulations. This article will provide a detailed overview of how the Consent Management App works, including installation, settings configuration, and integration with third-party consent management providers. By the end of this article, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of how to manage user consent on your website effectively.

Ezoic’s Consent Management App is a comprehensive tool designed to help publishers comply with GDPR and CCPA regulations. The app offers a range of features that allow for detailed configuration and setup of cookie permissions for site visitors.

Google directs publishers here for more information:

• Cookie Choices
• EU User Consent Policy
• EU User Consent Policy: Further Info

 While this app will help you manage consent compliance for the consents, logging, and privacy rules for GDPR, every company, website, and legal entity, has different data collection requirements under GDPR regulations, and the ultimate legal responsibility for ensuring full compliance remains with each publisher.

Installing the Consent Management App

The app’s unique system will pull in information from any cookie that's being dropped including those from ads on your original setup to help you with managing compliance.

You can find the Consent Management App under 'Settings' > 'Privacy' To get started, click 'Enable Ezoic Consent Management':

Here are some of the key functionalities and technical details of the Ezoic CMP:

1. Automatic IP Mapping and Ad Tag Switching: Ezoic’s system automatically maps IP addresses and substitutes ad tags based on visitors’ consent responses. This ensures compliance with GDPR and CCPA regulations.
2. Integration with Third-Party Consent Tools: If you are already using a third-party consent management provider (CMP) like Cookiebot, Ezoic allows for easy integration. Instructions for integrating these third-party tools can be found under the 'Third Party CMP Instructions' tab within the app.
3. Five Categories of Cookies:
   • Necessary: These cookies are essential for basic website functions and cannot be disabled. They enable functionalities like page navigation and access to secure areas.
   • Preferences: Preference cookies store information like preferred language or region, enhancing the user experience.
   • Statistics: These cookies collect anonymous data to help website owners understand visitor interactions and improve site performance.
   • Marketing: Marketing cookies track user activities to display relevant ads, increasing value for publishers and third-party advertisers.
   • Unclassified: These cookies are still being categorized and will be classified in collaboration with their providers.
4. Dynamic Modal Display: The modal prompt for cookie consent is shown only to EU residents, determined through IP geolocation. Non-EU visitors will not see the modal. The modal’s design and content can be previewed and customized under 'GDPR Settings' > 'GDPR Dialogue Features'.
   
   
   
5. User Consent Options: The modal allows visitors to select from various cookie preferences:
   • Recommended Cookies: Enables re-targeting cookies for interest-based ads.
   • Allow Necessary Cookies: Displays contextual ads based on page content.
   • About Cookies: Provides additional information on Ezoic’s cookie terms.
     
6. Categorization of Cookies: Under the Cookies tab, publishers need to categorize all cookies in use on their site. This includes both Found Cookies and User-defined Cookies.

Third Party CMP Instructions Tab

You have the option to integrate 3rd party consent management provider (CPM) solutions which follow the IAB Consent Framework with the Ezoic Consent Management App. Many of them charge for the service. If you want to use one of these instead of Ezoic’s free app you can make that selection here.

More information on CMP Vendors can be found here: CMP Vendors 

• Please note all consents will need to be communicated to Ezoic via the '_ezconsent' variable.  Instructions on how this script should be implemented can be found within the 'Third Party CMP Instructions' section of the Consent Management app.
• The CMP needs to communicate visitor consent decisions to the Ezoic system to know whether to display ads or not on Ezoic versions. Please make sure you implement this correctly to make sure ads can show to EU visitors where consent is indicated.
• The script needs to be implemented AFTER the modal is displayed

You can find this in the Ezoic app by clicking 'Third Party CMP Instructions': 

By following these detailed guidelines and utilizing the features of Ezoic’s Consent Management App, publishers can ensure compliance with GDPR and CCPA regulations while effectively managing user consent and cookie permissions.

1. Regularly Review and Update Consent Settings: Consistently review and update your consent settings and cookie categorizations to ensure they remain compliant with evolving GDPR and CCPA regulations. This includes keeping track of new cookies that may be added to your site and categorizing them appropriately.
2. Utilize the Preview Function: Before finalizing your consent management settings, use the preview function available in the Dialog Content Tab. This allows you to see how the modal will appear to your users and ensure that all information is clear and correctly displayed.
3. Educate Your Users: Make use of the 'About Cookies' section to provide detailed explanations of the different types of cookies and their purposes. This transparency helps build trust with your users and encourages them to make informed decisions.
4. Leverage the 'GDPR Dialogue Features': Customize the design of your GDPR consent modal under 'Settings' > 'GDPR Settings' > 'GDPR Dialogue Features' to make it more user-friendly and aligned with your website's aesthetics. A well-designed modal can improve user experience and compliance rates.
5. Implement Third Party CMPs Correctly: If opting to use a third-party consent management provider, ensure their integration is correctly implemented, especially the communication of consents via the '_ezconsent' variable. This is crucial for the proper functioning of ad displays based on user consent, as detailed in the Third Party CMP Instructions Tab.
6. Monitor Compliance Regularly: Periodically check the location-based functionality ensuring that only EU residents are being shown the modal prompt. This is important for maintaining adherence to GDPR requirements while avoiding unnecessary prompts to non-EU visitors.