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Global Privacy Control (GPC)

Updated last month

What is GPC?

**Global Privacy Control (GPC)** is a browser-based privacy signal that tells websites:

“Do not sell or share my personal information.”

When a user enables GPC, any site that supports it—like those using Osano—must automatically honor this opt-out preference, without the user needing to take further action.

How to Enable GPC in Osano

  1. Go to your Cookie Consent configuration settings.

  2. Toggle on “Support Global Privacy Control (GPC)”.

  3. Select Save Changes.

  4. Publish your configuration.

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This allows Osano to detect and apply GPC signals according to jurisdiction-specific rules. Once GPC is activated, additional functionality will be available for review, including the banner and drawer indicators and the Opt-Out Widget.

CMP Changes when GPC setting is enabled

When GPC is enabled, the Banner, Drawer, and Do Not Sell modal will be updated to display additional indicators indicating that a GPC signal is being honored. These indicators are only visible to site visitors in the United States. There is currently no way to disable these indicators when the GPC setting is enabled. When the GPC setting is disabled, they will no longer be visible to users.

The changes can be previewed in the Preview tab by selecting a state in the United States and enabling the 'Simulate GPC Signal' toggle.

Example Banner presentation

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Example Drawer presentation, within the Do Not Sell section

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Example Do Not Sell modal presentation

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How to Enable/Disable the Opt-Out Widget (GPC Widget) in Osano

The 'Opt-Out Widget' is an optional but recommended setting that displays a small 'opt-out honored' widget for United States site visitors who are sending an active GPC signal when viewing your website. This widget helps comply with California's CPRA, which requires a visual indication to site visitors that their opt-out signal is being honored.

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If you choose to disable this feature, we strongly recommend implementing an additional visual indicator on every page of your website to ensure you do not fall out of compliance with California regulations.

How to disable this feature:

  1. Go to your Cookie Consent configuration Styles page.

  2. Scroll to the Show Opt-Out Widget setting and toggle on/off, as needed.

  3. If enabled, you can also adjust the floating widget's position on the screen to either the bottom-left or bottom-right.

  4. Select Save Changes.

  5. Publish your configuration.

Notes:

  • To see your changes immediately without cache interference, check your changes using a private/incognito window.

  • If you enable the Opt-Out widget alongside the Cookie widget, the Cookie widget will always be displayed closest to the edge of the viewport.

How to Test GPC

Step 1: Use a GPC-Compatible Browser or Extension

Supported tools include:

  • DuckDuckGo browser

  • Brave browser

  • Firefox browser

  • Chrome browser

Note: When testing GPC, please avoid using a private or incognito browser window. These modes often apply extra restrictions that may interfere with accurate testing. For the most reliable results, we recommend using a standard browser window in a GPC-compatible browser.

Step 2: Check the GPC Signal

  1. Ensure GPC or Do Not Sell are enabled in your browser settings

  2. Visit your site

  3. Open Developer Tools → Console

  4. Run:

   navigator.globalPrivacyControl

If it returns true, GPC is active.

Step 3: Turn Off GPC and Retest

  1. Disable GPC in your browser or extension

  2. Clear cookies/cache

  3. Run the same command—now it should return false or undefined

What Happens When GPC Is Detected

If the User Is in the U.S.:

  • "OPT_OUT": "ACCEPT" is set in the consent object

  • The banner, drawer, and/or do not sell modal will display a visual indicator noting that an Opt-Signal is being honored

  • The following toggles are automatically set and locked:

    • Do Not Sell or Share → ON

    • Marketing / Targeted Advertising → OFF

  • The relevant privacy string (usprivacy or GPP) is sent via the IAB framework

If the User Is Outside the U.S.:

  • "OPT_OUT": "ACCEPT" is recorded in the Consent Object

  • The following toggles are automatically set and locked:

    • Marketing / Targeted Advertising → OFF

  • You can listen for the OPT_OUT event via Osano’s API to trigger custom behavior

How to Verify What Osano Captured

  1. Open your browser console

  2. Run:

   Osano.cm.getConsent()

  1. You’ll see something like:

   {
     "ANALYTICS": "ACCEPT",
     "ESSENTIAL": "ACCEPT",
     "MARKETING": "DENY",
     "OPT_OUT": "ACCEPT",
     "PERSONALIZATION": "ACCEPT",
     "STORAGE": "ACCEPT"
   }

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why can’t I turn off “Marketing” or “Do Not Sell” when GPC is enabled?

A: When Osano detects a GPC signal, these categories are locked to ensure compliance with U.S. privacy laws. Users have explicitly opted out, and changing those settings could violate legal requirements.

Q: Is GPC required to be supported?

A: In California (and other U.S. states with privacy laws), GPC is a recognized mechanism under CPRA and similar frameworks. While not federally mandated, many organizations treat GPC as a legal signal to honor.

Q: Can I override GPC or allow the user to opt back in?

A: No. If GPC is present, Osano will always treat the user as opted out for the relevant categories. There is no supported override in the CMP UI or backend.

Q: Will GPC change how the banner is shown?

A: In most cases, no. GPC does not suppress the banner, but it pre-sets and locks specific consent categories before user interaction. Starting in November 2025, in the United States, the banner and drawer will show an 'opt-out signal' indicator when a GPC signal is present on an end user's browser to comply with California's 1/1/2026 CPRA requirements.

Q: Can I move the visual indicators in the Banner/Drawer/Do Not Sell to another location?

A: No, it is not currently possible to change any of the current CMP layouts with respect to the visual indicators of opt-out signals.

Q: Can I edit the regions or countries that are shown the Opt-Out widget and visual indicators?

A: No, it is not currently possible to edit the locations where the Opt-Out widget and visual indicators are shown. They are currently only visible to users in the United States.

Q: Can I edit the text and/or colors of the Opt-Out widget and visual indicators?

A: It is possible to edit the text via the Text Customization feature within a Cookie Consent configuration.

A: The ability to update the widget and indicator color palettes will be available in a future Q1 2026 release.

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