Cookie Consent vs Consent Management Platform: Understanding the Differences

With the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ePrivacy Directive, the importance of obtaining user consent for processing personal data has significantly increased. Two solutions that have gained popularity are Cookie Consent and Consent and Preference Management platforms (CPMs).

While both types of platforms aim to help organizations manage consents, they differ in their scope and purpose. In this article, we will explain the differences between these two solutions and help you gain more insight in order to choose the right solution for your organization

What is Cookie Consent?

Cookie Consent is a specific type of consent related to the use of cookies on a website. These cookies collect data about a user’s browsing behavior, preferences, and location, among other things. Cookie Consent involves providing users with transparent information about the types of cookies used, their purposes, and any third-party services that may have access to the data collected. Users are then given the choice to accept or reject the use of cookies, with options to select which types of cookies they wish to allow.

What is GDPR Consent?

GDPR consent is a broader concept of obtaining consent to process personal data of individuals in compliance with the GDPR. It includes not only the use of cookies but also other forms of data processing, such as collecting email addresses for marketing purposes or sharing user data with third-party partners.

What is the Difference Between Cookie Consent and GDPR Consent?

While obtaining cookie consent is one aspect of compliance, the GDPR requires that organizations obtain consent from individuals for other types of data processing activities that involve personal data, such as data profiling, direct marketing, or automated decision-making.

Consent, in general, must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous, and individuals must be able to withdraw their consent at any time. Organizations must also be able to demonstrate that they have obtained valid consent and that individuals have been provided with clear and easy-to-understand information about the processing of their personal data.

To comply with these regulations, organizations need to have effective consent management processes in place. This involves implementing policies and procedures to ensure that individuals’ consent is properly obtained, recorded, and managed.

A consent management platform can be used to automate and streamline these processes, making it easier for companies to track and manage consent across their entire organization.

What is Consent and Preference Management Platform

A Consent and Preference Management platform (CPM) is a software solution that helps organizations manage the collection, storage, and processing of consent and preference data and enable them to respond to user requests related to their data.

CPM allows organizations to collect consent and preference data through various channels like websites or mobile apps and represents a centralized repository for storing consent data, along with information related to data processing, like the purpose of processing, data category, or legal basis for processing.

The platform integrates with other systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing automation platforms, to ensure that consent data is synchronized across all systems so it represents one single place for managing all user consents.

Functionalities:

1. Consent administration: Allows organizations to centrally manage and organize notices and consents and propagate them to all consent collection channels.
2. Records of consent: The solution keeps complete and detailed records of all consents obtained from individuals.
3. Integration with marketing platforms: Integration with marketing platforms and other front-end consent collection channels
4. Data privacy controls: CPM solutions allow individuals to see all of the data that is being collected about them, who is collecting it, and to what end. They can then choose to give or revoke their consent for each data collection and usage purpose.
5. Single source of truth: Represents a single source of truth for all collected consents, allowing organizations to timely start or terminate processing activities to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.
6. Demonstration of compliance: Real-time insight into the complete personal data lifecycle, from the moment of opt-in to the data removal, enabling organizations to demonstrate compliance for any individual at any time.
7. End-to-end automation of consent management: Complete automation of the process of collecting, storing, and managing all user consent.

What is a Cookie Consent Platform

A Cookie Consent platform is a tool that enables website owners to obtain user consent before setting non-essential cookies on their devices in compliance with privacy laws.

Using a Cookie Consent platform, you can customize the look and feel of your consent notices and explain clearly what cookies you use and why. This fosters transparency and trust on your website and can improve users’ experience by respecting their privacy preferences and giving them more control over their personal data.

Cookie Consent platforms also have reporting capabilities and keep records of cookie consent, enabling organizations to demonstrate compliance with ePrivacy Regulation and other privacy laws.

Functionalities:

1. Cookie Scanner: Scans website for cookies and creates a detailed inventory of all the cookies being used on the website.
2. Cookie Management: Allows you to manage the website’s cookies, including adding new cookies, deleting existing ones, and changing their settings.
3. Cookie Consent Logs: This feature records when a user provides consent to use cookies and what specific cookies they consented to.
4. Geo-Targeting: Most cookie platforms enable you to display the cookie banner to users based on their location.
5. Customization:  Allows you to customize the look and feel of the cookie banner to match website’s design.

What are the differences between CPM and Cokie Consent platform?

A Cookie Consent platform and a Consent and Preference Management platform are both tools designed to help organizations comply with data protection regulations, but they have different functions and purposes.

A Cookie Consent platform is specifically designed to obtain and manage user consent for the use of cookies on a website or online service.

It typically provides a pop-up or banner that appears on the website, informing users about the use of cookies and requesting their consent to collect and process their data. A cookie consent platform may also include tools to customize the cookie notice, control cookie settings, and monitor cookie consent.

In contrast, a Consent and Preference Management platform is a more comprehensive tool designed to manage user consent for different data processing activities, not just cookies.

It can help organizations manage and document user consent for various purposes, track consent collection, and serve as a one place of truth for all collected consents and information about them (data categories, data subject category, sensitive data, the legal basis for collecting, consent notices and more).

It may also include features such as user preference centers and compliance reporting. A consent management platform is especially useful for organizations that handle large volumes of personal data, organizations in highly regulated industries, and privacy-forward companies, as it can help them manage user consents at scale and demonstrate compliance with data protection regulations.

It’s important to note that there are various solutions available, and their specific functionalities may differ. The features and capabilities can depend on the provider and the needs of the organization using it.

How to Choose the Right Solution For You?

In general, websites or online services that collect, store cookies are required to obtain cookie consent before doing so. This includes websites that use cookies for analytics, advertising, or other purposes. Thus, any website or online service that uses cookies needs to provide cookie consent to its users.

On the other hand, organizations that deal with large volumes of personal data, such as those in the healthcare or financial sectors, may need to implement a Consent Management solution.

Consent Management solutions can help organizations manage and document user consents for all their processing activities. Therefore, organizations that process sensitive or high-risk personal data are likely to need a Consent Management solution to ensure compliance with data protection laws.

So, which platform is right for you? It ultimately depends on your specific needs and goals. If your main concern is compliance with cookie regulations, a cookie consent platform may be the way to go. However, if you want to automate your processes and manage different types of consents, a consent and preference management platform may be the better choice.

Whichever platform you choose, make sure to prioritize user privacy and transparency to build trust with your audience.