Consent Management Platform
A tool that helps websites and apps collect, manage, and store user consent for cookies and data processing.
What Consent Management Platform means
A Consent Management Platform (CMP) is a technology solution that displays cookie consent banners, collects user preferences, stores consent records, and signals consent status to third-party tools including ad pixels and analytics. CMPs implement frameworks like the IAB Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF) to standardize consent signals across the advertising ecosystem. Popular CMPs include OneTrust, Cookiebot, TrustArc, and Termly. For advertisers, CMP integration is essential for compliance with GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, and increasingly CCPA/CPRA. Google requires certified CMP usage for serving personalized ads in the EEA, and Meta's Consent Mode requires consent signals for EU user data. Proper CMP implementation ensures that ad tracking only fires after valid consent is obtained.
Related terms
Consent
A user's explicit or implied permission for data collection, processing, or advertising targeting, required by privacy regulations.
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation — the EU's comprehensive data protection law governing how personal data is collected, processed, and stored.
Cookie
A small text file stored in a user's browser by websites, used for tracking, personalization, and ad targeting.
Transparency and Consent Framework
An IAB Europe standard that helps publishers, advertisers, and technology vendors comply with GDPR consent requirements for advertising.