Google Consent Mode implementation

A cookie banner is an informational tool displayed on a website that notifies users about the use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Its main purpose is to ensure compliance with privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.

The cookie banner typically appears during a user's first visit to the site and gives them the option to consent to the use of cookies for specific purposes, such as ad personalization, traffic analysis, or social media integration. Users can choose to accept all cookies, reject them, or customize their preferences based on different cookie categories.

The cookie banner must also provide easy access to the website’s full privacy policy, where users can find detailed information about managing their privacy settings.

A cookie banner should include several key elements to inform users about the use of cookies and help them make an informed decision. Most importantly, it must clearly state that the website uses cookies and other tracking technologies. It should also explain the purposes of these cookies - for example, for content personalization, traffic analysis, or social media integration.

Additionally, the banner must provide consent options. Users should be able to:
→  Accept all cookies
→ Reject all cookies
→ Select specific categories of cookies they wish to allow

It’s also essential that the banner includes a link to the full privacy and cookies policy, where users can find detailed information about what data is collected, how it’s stored, and how they can manage it.

These options should be easily accessible and user-friendly, ensuring that everyone can manage their preferences with minimal effort.

Yes, the cookie banner must be accessible on every page of the website—especially until the user makes a consent decision. Once consent is given or denied, the banner can be hidden, but users should always have an easy way to revisit and modify their preferences.

For mobile devices, the banner must be designed with smaller screens and touch interfaces in mind. It should be clearly visible without overwhelming the screen, remain responsive across devices, and offer accessible interactive elements (like consent buttons and settings) so users can easily manage their privacy choices.

If a user does not consent to the use of cookies, the website must limit or disable any functions that rely on them, in accordance with the user’s selection. This means that certain features - such as personalization, user activity tracking, or social media integration - may be unavailable or significantly reduced.The website should still function at a basic level, but interactive and personalized elements will be restricted, which may impact the overall user experience.

You can find more information on cookie regulations through various legal and regulatory sources specific to your region. In the European Union, detailed guidelines are available on the websites of the Polish Personal Data Protection Office (UODO) and the European Commission, particularly regarding GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

In other countries, similar information can be found on the websites of national regulatory or government agencies. Additionally, resources from organizations specializing in data privacy—such as the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)—are valuable for up-to-date insights, training, and global best practices on cookies and privacy.

Google Consent Mode is a technology developed by Google that allows businesses to adjust how their websites and advertising tools operate based on the consent choices users make regarding cookies and other tracking technologies. It enables companies to comply with privacy regulations like the GDPR, without losing access to essential analytics data.

The main advantage of Google Consent Mode is that it allows the collection of limited, anonymized data even when users do not give full tracking consent. For example, if a user declines marketing cookies, Consent Mode can still collect basic ad performance data anonymously. Similarly, if analytics cookies are denied, it can still gather fundamental information about user behavior to maintain basic traffic analysis functionality.

Implementing Google Consent Mode involves adding a specific script to your website that manages user consent signals and adjusts the behavior of Google tools (like Google Analytics or Google Ads) accordingly. This flexibility makes Google Consent Mode a valuable solution for companies aiming to stay legally compliant while still optimizing their online strategies.

Google Consent Mode v2 is an enhanced version of Google's consent management technology, developed to meet the stricter requirements of European data protection laws like the GDPR and the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It is mandatory for websites using Google services in the EU and EEA and must be implemented by March 2024.

This version supports continued use of features like ad personalization, remarketing, and conversion tracking, all while respecting user consent preferences.

Consent Mode v2 allows websites to manage cookie consents more effectively by categorizing cookies into essential and optional groups (e.g., for marketing, analytics, or performance). From the first visit, users can choose which categories to accept—triggering only the relevant scripts based on their decisions.

The updated version brings improvements in how it interacts with tools like Google Analytics, Google Ads, and Google Tag Manager, enabling more detailed yet privacy-safe data analysis. This not only enhances user trust and transparency, but also allows companies to manage their online presence more effectively while staying compliant with privacy laws.

It largely depends on the type of implementation - Advanced or Basic.

Google Consent Mode adjusts how analytics data is collected based on the user’s consent preferences. If a user does not consent to analytics cookies, data such as visit counts or on-site interactions is gathered in a more limited and anonymized way.

Using statistical modeling and data aggregation, Google can still provide valuable insights into user behavior without identifying individuals. This allows businesses to optimize their websites and advertising campaigns while remaining compliant with privacy and data protection laws.