The Global Privacy Platform (GPP) is a groundbreaking initiative by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) designed to streamline the communication of user consent and privacy preferences across multiple jurisdictions. As privacy regulations continue to evolve globally, the GPP offers a standardized approach for websites, advertisers, and ad tech vendors to manage and transmit user consent signals consistently and efficiently.

This article will provide an introduction to Global Privacy Platform and illustrate how you can enable it for your website using Secure Privacy.

What is the Global Privacy Platform?

The GPP is a protocol that combines various consent frameworks and privacy signals into a single, standardized string. This unified approach allows websites and advertisers to merge users' consent preferences from different jurisdictions, creating a cohesive system for sharing these preferences throughout the digital advertising ecosystem.

Currently, the GPP supports privacy strings from several frameworks, including:

- IAB Europe's Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF)

- IAB Canada TCF

- MSPA's US National string

- US state-specific privacy strings for California, Virginia, Utah, Colorado, and Connecticut

How Does the GPP Work?

The GPP operates by reading signals from regional consent strings and combining them into a new, comprehensive string called the GPP String. This string consists of two main components:

1. The Header: Acts as a table of contents, providing information about what's included in the sections of the GPP string, such as applicable jurisdictional frameworks.

2. The Sections: Contain specific information related to local data protection laws. For example, an EU section would include details about privacy disclosures, consent timing, and applicable legal restrictions.

For a deep-dive into the technical implementation of GPP, head over to this GitHub repository.

Benefits of Implementing GPP

1. Simplified Compliance: GPP helps organizations navigate the complex landscape of global privacy laws by providing a unified approach to consent management.

2. Improved Efficiency: By standardizing consent signals, GPP streamlines the communication process between websites, advertisers, and ad tech vendors.

3. Future-Proofing: The platform is designed to evolve with new regulations, making it easier for businesses to adapt to changing privacy requirements.

4. Cost-Effective: Implementing GPP can reduce the overall cost of managing privacy compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

How GPP Supports Compliance with Data Privacy Laws

The GPP facilitates compliance with various data privacy laws by enabling the collection and sharing of user consent preferences in a standardized format. Here's how it supports compliance with some key regulations:

EU GDPR

GPP incorporates the IAB's Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF v2.2) for EU compliance. It allows for the transmission of detailed consent information to downstream vendors, ensuring GDPR compliance.

US State Privacy Laws

GPP supports compliance with state-specific requirements, including:

- California (CCPA/CPRA)

- Colorado (CPA)

- Connecticut (CTDPA)

- Utah (UCPA)

- Virginia (VCDPA)

For each state, GPP can handle various opt-out and consent requirements, such as the sale of personal information, targeted advertising, and sensitive data processing.

Secure Privacy supports the below US privacy strings through the usnat (US National) string:

• usca - US California
• usva - US Virginia
• usco - US Colorado
• usut - US Utah
• usct - US Connecticut

Enabling GPP in Secure Privacy: Step-by-Step Guide

To implement the Global Privacy Platform using Secure Privacy, follow these steps:

1. Log in to Secure Privacy

2. Configure GPP Settings:

- Navigate to your Domain's settings

- Look for a dropdown labeled Framework

- Select the option from dropdown: IAB GPP

3. Set Up TCF Vendors:

- Select the TCF Vendors that you want to support

4. Select the relevant notices and opt-out categories

- Choose the relevant notices and opt-out categories

- Notices will ensure compliance with US Privacy Strings and Opt-out categories will provide the user a control over their data

Note: The US Privacy notices are not created/provided by Secure Privacy, and we leave it to our customers to create and maintain it on their domains.

By implementing GPP using Secure Privacy, you can simplify the complex task of managing consent across multiple jurisdictions, improve efficiency, and future-proof your privacy compliance efforts.

As privacy regulations continue to evolve, GPP will likely become an increasingly valuable tool for businesses operating in the global digital landscape.