Consent Management Platform
Software that manages the collection, storage, and enforcement of user consent for cookies and data processing on websites.
A Consent Management Platform (CMP) is a tool that helps websites collect, manage, and enforce visitor consent for cookies and other tracking technologies. A CMP typically displays a consent banner, allows users to set granular preferences by cookie category, blocks non-consented scripts from loading, stores consent records as proof of compliance, and provides users with an easy way to change their preferences at any time.
A robust CMP is essential for compliance with the GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, CCPA, and other privacy laws. It must support the IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) where required, handle multiple jurisdictions with different consent models (opt-in vs. opt-out), maintain tamper-proof consent records, and integrate with the website’s technology stack to actually prevent unauthorized cookies from firing. The choice of CMP significantly impacts both compliance posture and user experience.