IAB Europe has finalised v2.0 of its Transparency and Consent Framework developed with IAB Tech Lab and mutual member companies. Google now fully supports TCF v2.0.
Google does not require adoption of TCF v2.0. This article describes how Google interoperates with those who have chosen to adopt TCF v2.0, and does not apply to those who have not adopted TCF v2.0.
What to know before registering
If you're integrating with the IAB TCF v2.0, please review the information below about how Google will interoperate with the IAB TCF v2.0 based on the content of the IAB TCF v2.0’s Transparency & Consent (TC) string. Google may update this information from time to time.
For simplicity, we use the phrase 'Google will work with you via the TCF v2.0' below to encompass several aspects of interoperability via the TCF v2.0, including but not limited to:
- Bidding on bid requests that Google receives
- Sending bid requests from publishers using Google to bidders
- Allowing third-party ad tracking and third-party ad serving to occur
Google policies
The interoperability guidance below is intended to reflect Google's existing policy requirements, in particular the requirements of Google's EU user consent policy and our policies against fingerprinting for identification (for example, those contained in our Requirements for third-party ad serving). Please note that our policies continue to apply and are more restrictive than TCF v2.0 in some cases.
Purposes
For each purpose below, for Google to work with you via the TCF v2.0, the TC string must indicate that consent has been granted by, or legitimate interest has been established with, the user (as applicable).
Store and/or access information on a device (Purpose 1)
If you use cookies, mobile ad identifiers or other local storage, Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for consent for Purpose 1.
In some jurisdictions, for example Germany, in certain situations, consent for Purpose 1 may not be asked for by the publisher via the CMP and, so long as the TC string appropriately represents this, Google will interoperate in those situations. In line with our EU user consent policy, this position is subject to change based on legal developments and evolving regulator guidance.
Select basic ads (Purpose 2)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘consent’, ‘legitimate interest’, ‘consent or legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Purpose 2.
Create a personalised ads profile and select personalised ads (Purposes 3 and 4)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘consent’ for Purposes 3 and 4, as long as the TC string indicates that the user has granted consent for both those purposes.
Google will also work with you via TCF v2.0 if you are registered for ‘not used’ for these purposes.
If you're registered for ‘legitimate interest’ for Purposes 3 and/or 4:
- If the TC string indicates that ad personalisation (Purposes 3 and/or 4) is permitted under legitimate interest, Google will not work with you via TCF v2.0.
- If the TC string indicates no ad personalisation is permitted, Google will work with you via TCF v2.0.
If you're registered for ‘consent or legitimate interest as a legal basis’ for Purposes 3 and/or 4:
- If there are no publisher restrictions, Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 as long as your default legal basis is consent.
- If there are publisher restrictions:
- If the publisher restriction is for you to operate on the basis of consent, Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 in that circumstance.
- If the publisher restriction is for you to operate on the basis of legitimate interest, Google will not work with you via TCF v2.0 in that circumstance.
Create a personalised content profile and select personalised content (Purposes 5 and 6)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘consent’, ‘legitimate interest’, ‘consent or legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Purposes 5 and/or 6.
Measure ad performance (Purpose 7)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘consent’, ‘legitimate interest’, ‘consent or legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Purpose 7.
Measure content performance (Purpose 8)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘consent’, ‘legitimate interest’, ‘consent or legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Purpose 8.
Apply market research to generate audience insights (Purpose 9)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘consent’, ‘legitimate interest’, ‘consent or legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Purpose 9.
Develop and improve products (Purpose 10)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘consent’, ‘legitimate interest’, ‘consent or legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Purpose 10.
Special Purposes
Ensure security, prevent fraud and debug (Special Purpose 1)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Special Purpose 1.
Technically deliver ads or content (Special Purpose 2)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for ‘legitimate interest’ or ‘not used’ for Special Purpose 2.
Features
Match and combine offline data sources (Feature 1)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you register for Feature 1, as long as appropriate disclosure has been provided to the user.
Link different devices (Feature 2)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you register for Feature 2, as long as appropriate disclosure has been provided to the user.
Receive and send automatically sent device characteristics for identification (Feature 3)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you're registered for Feature 3. However, we remind you that our policies prohibit fingerprinting for identification (e.g. Requirements for Third-Party Ad Serving), and we require that you adhere to our policies, which can be more restrictive than the TCF v2.0 in some cases, whenever you work with us.
We actively enforce our policies and we're continuing to invest in technology to detect fingerprinting on our platforms.
Special Features
Use precise geolocation data (Special Feature 1)
Google will work with you via TCF v2.0 if you register for this feature, as long as appropriate disclosure has been provided to the user and users appropriately opt in to Special Feature 1.
Actively scan device characteristics for identification (Special Feature 2)
Google will work with you via the TCF v2.0 if you are registered for Special Feature 2. However, we remind you that our policies prohibit fingerprinting for identification (e.g. Requirements for Third-Party Ad Serving), and we require that you adhere to our policies, which can be more restrictive than the TCF v2.0 in some cases, whenever you work with us.
Macro requirements
To adopt the IAB TCF v2.0, macros should be added to pixel URLs within creatives to indicate where in the URL the TC string should be inserted and sent onwards, as well as to identify which vendors are present.
For any help or support with TCF v2.0 registration in general, independent of Google’s integration, please email IAB Europe at framework@iabeurope.eu.
FAQs
Scope
Which Google ads products are integrating with the IAB TCF v2.0?
Integration with the IAB TCF v2.0 will apply to third-party inventory (not Google owned and operated inventory). We obtain consent for Google owned and operated inventory through our own consent flows.
Products that will be integrated with the IAB TCF v2.0:
- Google Ad Manager
- AdSense
- AdMob
- Google Analytics (for advertising features used in conjunction with Google ads products)
- Google Display Ads (for integrated properties)
- Display & Video 360 and Campaign Manager 360 (for integrated properties)
- Google Authorised Buyers
- Funding Choices
Timing
What is Google’s GVL ID and when this will be visible in the TCF framework?
Integration requirements
What are Google registration requirements?
- Google registration as a vendor. Please see the IAB TCF GVL registry (.JSON file) for Google’s registration as a vendor.
- Google’s requirements for vendors and publishers to work with Google. Please refer to Google’s Interoperability guidance for vendors.
Can publishers using the IAB TCF v2.0 continue to work with vendors that are not registered on the GVL after Google’s integration is complete?
Why does a publisher need to obtain consent for both Purpose 3 (Create a personalised ads profile) and Purpose 4 (select personalised ads) to serve personalised ads? What if a publisher wants to personalise ads for that user, but not build personalised profiles for them?
- the use of cookies or other local storage where legally required [Purpose 1]; and
- the collection, sharing [Purpose 3] and use [Purpose 4] of personal data for personalisation of ads.
What would happen if a publisher decides to not integrate the TCF V.2 and send the consent to Google as they are doing right now?
Google is not integrated with TCF v1.0, so Google will continue to ignore v1.0 TC strings as if they were not there.
Partners are not required to use IAB TCF v2.0. They can continue using other means to comply with our policies.
- The ad technology provider controls that we launched across Ad Manager, AdSense and AdMob last year for publishers will continue to function.
- When setting up their IAB-compliant CMPs and picking which ad technology providers (ATPs) they want to work with, publishers monetising with Google can select vendors IDs from both IAB’s Global vendor list and Google's ATP list for any CMPs that implement Additional Consent. If there are vendors that are not available on the IAB GVL but are available in our ad technology provider controls, publishers can continue to work with those ad technology providers.
