Gibberish Misery (Blog 559)

Here’s a chilling message I received a while ago, but only yesterday did I feel brave enough to confront…

‘To align with evolving industry standards for user transparency and consent, all publishers and CMPs are required to transition to the IAB Europe's Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) v2.3 by February 28, 2026. Google’s systems can accept and process TCF v2.3 strings today. As such we recommend that you begin this transition well ahead of the deadline to avoid disruption to ad serving.’

Ok, I know what ‘align’ means, (having Googled the word), I’ve heard of evolving, industry and even transparency, I guess I’m a publisher and I know what required means, but the rest of the paragraph? You’ve lost me. Do I have to work with string theory? It’s just that I don’t even have a physics GCSE. What does ‘disruption to ad serving mean’? It’s just that disruption is usually temporary right? Does that mean if I don’t do what I’m supposed to do, whatever that is, my adverts will be disrupted for a short time? Who cares?

Here’s another paragraph I had to make sense of…

‘Required actions for publishers: (That’s me!) We urge you to contact your Consent Management Platform (CMP) (what the hell is that?) immediately (I know what that means and no) to confirm their plan and timeline for migrating your properties to their TCF v2.3-compliant solution. (AAARGH!) Early coordination is critical for a seamless transition. No action is required if you are using the Google CMP for your web or app properties, (I don’t know what the (expletive) that is!) as we will begin writing TCF v2.3 strings by the February 28, 2026 deadline.’ (What??)

Ok, first of all, let’s Google what Consent Management Platform means… It’s ‘software that helps websites and apps get, store, and manage user consent for data collection’? What like a cookies policy? I have one already, it’s more than visible on my homepage, it has a huge arrow flipping pointing to it… Ah, the paragraph continues by saying CMPs offer banners for choices and that kind of stuff. My site doesn’t have that. At least I don’t think it does. I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to contact Adsense support, I really don’t have a clue what I’m supposed to do.

Here’s my question, ‘What does migrating your properties to a TCF v2.3 compliant solution mean?’ I think it’s simple enough to understand. Maybe Adsense can only work with more gibberish, I’ll have to see. Yes, that seems to be the case, the site hasn’t really given me a suitable answer.

I’ll try another question, how about ‘How do I contact a consent manager platform?’ Wow, how did I end up on a page telling me how to add adverts to my site? I did that about 9 years ago. Ok that didn’t work, so let’s go back to the instructions I received in the ‘required actions’ paragraph. They continue by saying…

To integrate with the IAB Europe TCF (again, don’t know what that is), a publisher must implement an IAB registered TCF CMP on their site. (Screw you!!!) The CMP creates and sends the TC (Transparency & Consent) string. (More string theory?) Then, Google’s ad tags consume the TC string they receive from the CMP.

Here’s a more simple question I will be asking the so called ’support’: ‘I don’t understand what I have to do, please help…’ No that’s too simple. How about ‘What does migrating my properties mean’? I know what I think it means, I think it means sending my luggage to another country, but what has that got to do with Adsense???

Answer: Migrating your properties refers to the process of updating your websites or apps to comply with the newest version of IAB Europe's Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) v2.3. This involves coordinating with your Consent Management Platform (CMP) to ensure your properties are using a TCF v2.3-compliant solution. Is there anything else I can help you with regarding the Transparency and Consent Framework?

Yes, you can help. Next question: ‘How do I do that?’

A: ‘To migrate your properties to a TCF v2.3-compliant solution, you'll need to work with a Consent Management Platform (CMP). Here's what you should do:

1. Contact your CMP: Reach out to your Consent Management Platform (CMP) immediately to confirm their plan and timeline for migrating your properties to their TCF v2.3-compliant solution.

2. Coordinate early: Early coordination is critical for a seamless transition. (Whoops).

3. If using Google CMP: No action is required if you are using the Google CMP for your web or app properties, as we will begin writing TCF v2.3 strings by the February 28, 2026 deadline.

Do you have a CMP already, or are you using the Google CMP?’

Next question: What’s a CMP?

A: I’m sorry, I'm still learning and can't help with that. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Q: You don’t know??? Ok, what’s a Google CMP, then? (Or words to that effect. More polite words).

A: A Google CMP refers to Google's Consent Management Platform. Google consent management solutions, available in Ad Manager, AdSense and AdMob's Privacy & messaging tab, supports TCF v2.2 for its European regulations messages, in alignment with the IAB's updated requirements for CMPs. Is there anything else I can help you with?

Q: How do I know if I have a Google CMP?

A: To determine if you're using Google's CMP, check if you've set up European regulations messages in the Privacy & messaging tab of your Google AdSense account. Would you like instructions for how to navigate to the Privacy & messaging tab?

Q: Yes…

Ok, that was simple enough, I got the instructions. Next question…

Q: Do I need to set up European regulation message?

A: Whether you need to set up a European regulations message depends on whether you have users in the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and Switzerland. If you do, then under Google's EU User Consent Policy, you must make certain disclosures to your users and obtain their consent for the use of cookies or other local storage where legally required and for the collection, sharing, and use of personal data for ads personalization.

Me thinking to myself: Do I have users in the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland? I guess so.

Q: How do I set up a European regulation message?

(I was given instructions).

Ok, to be fair those instructions were at least relatively easy to follow, but I fear screwing my site up by entering the wrong information, anyway.

Here’s a good question: What happens if I don’t have a European regulation message?

A: If you don't have a European regulation message and you have users in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK, you may be in violation of Google's EU User Consent Policy. This policy requires you to obtain users' consent for the use of cookies or other local storage where legally required, and for the collection, sharing, and use of personal data for ads personalization. Failure to comply with this policy could result in ad serving being disabled on your site. Do you have any further questions about the EU User Consent Policy?

Me thinking to myself: Wow, that sounds bad.

Q: Are European regulation messages added automatically? (Please say they are).

A: AdSense will automatically add the required European regulations message revocation link to sites on which you display European regulations messages. These links will only be added to sites that have been approved and also contain the AdSense code, and will be accompanied by text that states that you comply with the IAB TCF v2.0 policies. However, you need to create the European regulations message. Do you have any further questions about creating European regulation messages?

Q: What happens if I miss the February 28 2026 deadline?

A: If you miss the February 28, 2026 deadline for transitioning to IAB Europe's Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) v2.3, support for new TCF v2.2 strings will be officially dropped, though Google will still support TCF v2.2 strings created before February 28, 2026. TCF v2.3 is mandatory for all TC strings generated on or after February 28, 2026. Failure to meet this requirement may cause the associated ad request to be defaulted to Limited Ads, which may impact revenue. Do you have any further questions about the Transparency and Consent Framework?

Q: What if I can’t be bothered?

A: I understand that dealing with these policies and deadlines can be tedious. However, adhering to the EU User Consent Policy and transitioning to TCF v2.3 is essential for ensuring compliance and avoiding potential impacts on your ad revenue. Is there anything specific I can help you with to make the process easier or clarify any concerns you may have?

Q: I just need to create a European regulation message?

A: Yes, creating a European regulations message is a key step in complying with the EU User Consent Policy. This message allows you to obtain consent from users in the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, and Switzerland for the use of cookies or other local storage, and for the collection, sharing, and use of personal data for ads personalization. Would you like me to provide the steps for creating a European regulations message?

(I gave them a read).

Wow, after a couple of hours of intense concentration and what seemed to be a success, I ended my journey by getting a message saying ‘You’re already showing this message type (the message I tried adding to my site after all this time) on one or more of the sites you’ve selected. Would you like to replace your published message?

In disbelief, I then checked if my site had such a message already…

A: I do not have access to your account details and cannot confirm whether your site already has a European regulations message. However, the message you saw, “you’re already showing this message type on one or more of the sites you’ve selected. Would you like to replace your published message?” indicates that you likely have an existing European regulations message.’

Great, a waste of a day! Bye!