AdMob new EU consent SDK

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Martin

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May 4, 2018, 7:03:04 AM5/4/18
to Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hello,

When I'm interpreting Google's new guidelines regarding the EU's new privacy laws (GDPR) correctly, every app that uses AdMob has to implement a mechanism to ask European users for their consent and is not allowed to show AdMob ads before consent has been given. Right?

Therefore I have a question regarding Google AdMob's new EU Consent SDK:
The website (https://developers.google.com/admob/ios/eu-consent) says "The Consent SDK will be made available by mid-May".

Will the Consent SDK be part of AdMobs regular iOS SDK or will it be a separate SDK that needs to be implemented additionally?

Is there any way to see how the consent message will look like when using this new Consent SDK?
Will the message appear on every app start or only once?
Will the Consent SDK serve the consent message in English only or also in other languages like French, German, Italien etc.? Is the consent message in different languages part of this Consent SDK?

Will AdMob not serve any ads until consent has been given? Does Google allow to serve ads before consent has been given?

Thank you so much!

Kind regards,
Martin

mobileadssdk-a...@google.com

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May 7, 2018, 1:54:53 PM5/7/18
to Martin, Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hi there Martin, in answer to your questions:

every app that uses AdMob has to implement a mechanism to ask European users for their consent and is not allowed to show AdMob ads before consent has been given. Right?
Correct.

Will the Consent SDK be part of AdMobs regular iOS SDK or will it be a separate SDK that needs to be implemented additionally?
It will be a separate SDK.


Is there any way to see how the consent message will look like when using this new Consent SDK?
There are not currently any design mock ups available.

Will the message appear on every app start or only once?
As per the guide, you should check the users consent status at every app launch. If the users consent is already given, you will not need to show a consent form again. If the users consent is not known and they are in the EU, you will need to request consent again. 
The user should be able to change their consent at any time, so you should provide them the option to do this. 

Will the Consent SDK serve the consent message in English only or also in other languages like French, German, Italien etc.? Is the consent message in different languages part of this Consent SDK?
The Consent SDK will be open source and includes a consent dialog, the contents of which comes from a modifiable consent_form.html file. This will be provided in English, but you may localize it in your app if you choose, using the standard iOS localization methods.

Will AdMob not serve any ads until consent has been given? Does Google allow to serve ads before consent has been given?
When you make AdMob requests, it is assumed that consent is given. You should not make any ad requests if you have not collected consent. 

Regards,

Sam
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Martin

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May 7, 2018, 3:17:16 PM5/7/18
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every app that uses AdMob has to implement a mechanism to ask European users for their consent and is not allowed to show AdMob ads before consent has been given. Right?
Correct.
Does that mean I have to give users 3 choices? 1) personalized ads, 2) non-personalized ads 3) no ads at all?
Or how exactly should this be handled?
When users have the option to use the app without ads, why would someone choose ads if he can get rid of them?

And when the Consent SDK won't be available until mid-May and your website https://developers.google.com/admob/ios/eu-consent says: "Please do not attempt to use these APIs before May 25, because they may disrupt ad serving on your app." How can I implement and test the Consent SDK on time before the law is in place, if it's not working before May 25? The law is already effective on Mai 25. I mean I can't just publish my app updates on May 25 without being able to test the consent dialog before and see whether it's displayed correctly on all the different devices. Also it takes time until all the apps are updated and pass Apple's review which is something developers can't control.

Best,
Martin

mobileadssdk-a...@google.com

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May 7, 2018, 5:05:23 PM5/7/18
to Martin, Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hi Martin,

The consent SDK provides up to 3 options - personalized and non-personalized ads, and a paid / premium version of the app without ads.

Which options you show is up to you.

If you offer a paid version of your app, you should show this option as a way to convert them to paid users. If they select the paid option on the consent form, you should direct them to the app's store listing.

If the user doesn't pay for the app or consent to ads at all, you can close the app after they close the consent form, and show the consent form again next time they start the app.

Regards

Sam

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Also find us on our blog and Google+ page:
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On 05/07/18 12:17:16 martin.b...@io-marketing.de wrote:
every app that uses AdMob has to implement a mechanism to ask European users for their consent and is not allowed to show AdMob ads before consent has been given. Right?
Correct.
Does that mean I have to give users 3 choices? 1) personalized ads, 2) non-personalized ads 3) no ads at all?

Or how exactly should this be handled?

When users have the option to use the app without ads, why would someone choose ads if he can get rid of them?

Thank you so much!

Best,
Martin

Am Freitag, 4. Mai 2018 13:03:04 UTC+2 schrieb Martin:
Hello,

When I'm interpreting Google's new guidelines regarding the EU's new privacy laws (GDPR) correctly, every app that uses AdMob has to implement a mechanism to ask European users for their consent and is not allowed to show AdMob ads before consent has been given. Right?

Therefore I have a question regarding Google AdMob's new EU Consent SDK:
The website (https://developers.google.com/admob/ios/eu-consent) says "The Consent SDK will be made available by mid-May".

Will the Consent SDK be part of AdMobs regular iOS SDK or will it be a separate SDK that needs to be implemented additionally?

Is there any way to see how the consent message will look like when using this new Consent SDK?
Will the message appear on every app start or only once?
Will the Consent SDK serve the consent message in English only or also in other languages like French, German, Italien etc.? Is the consent message in different languages part of this Consent SDK?

Will AdMob not serve any ads until consent has been given? Does Google allow to serve ads before consent has been given?

Thank you so much!

Kind regards,
Martin

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Martin

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May 8, 2018, 4:26:46 AM5/8/18
to Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hi Sam,

ok, thank you.

But how should developers test the consent dialog, if it's not working before May 25?
Your website https://developers.google.com/admob/ios/eu-consent says: "Please do not attempt to use these APIs before May 25, because they may disrupt ad serving on your app." But developers need a way to see and test the consent dialog to make sure it's displayed correctly on all the different devices.

If developers can only test it from May 25 it's too late because the law is already in effect. Also it takes time to get the updates through Apple's app review.

Furthermore it's already known since one year that the GDPR law will be in effect on May 25 2018. There was a 1 year transition period. So Google knew since one year what needs to be done and waits until a few days before the law is in effect to provide developers with the necessary material? It's not what we would have expected from a large corporation like Google :-(

Regards,
Martin

mobileadssdk-a...@google.com

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May 8, 2018, 12:44:23 PM5/8/18
to Martin, Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hi Martin,

You will be able to test these APIs and the consent dialog prior to May 25th. You can also submit your app with the new APIs. However ad serving is not guaranteed to work correctly with the new APIs before the deadline.

You can submit the app for review without actually releasing it.

Regards

Sam


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Also find us on our blog and Google+ page:
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Michał Jakubowski

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May 8, 2018, 12:53:22 PM5/8/18
to Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
How we are supposed to test them, if the library with new APIs is not supposed to be out till few days before May 25th? 

And since we are also supposed to translate dialog ourselves, few days are sure not enough to add new code, test it, translate and make public on time ...

mobileadssdk-a...@google.com

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May 8, 2018, 1:23:04 PM5/8/18
to Michał Jakubowski, Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
The consent SDK is designed as an open source library that makes it easier for publishers to collect consent and integrate it with the AdMob SDK. However it is possible to pass consent without using the consent SDK.

The dialog is completely customizable, so it is fine for you to develop your own consent collection or create your own dialog text.

If you are unable to implement the consent collection in time for the deadline, it would be recommended not to show ads to EU users if you have not collected consent.


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Martin

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May 9, 2018, 5:50:08 AM5/9/18
to Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hi Sam,

you wrote:
If the user doesn't pay for the app or consent to ads at all, you can close the app after they close the consent form, and show the consent form again next time they start the app.

But that wouldn't be allowed according to the GDPR law, because it's not allowed to force the user to give the consent in order to use the app. The consent must be freely given and you can't deny those users the use of your app if they don't want to give consent. That what the law says! (https://www.gdpreu.org/the-regulation/key-concepts/consent/)

So developers have to give users the option to use the app without ads. But how will Google and AdMob publishers still earn money, if users can decide to use apps without ads?



Am Montag, 7. Mai 2018 23:05:23 UTC+2 schrieb mobileadssdk-a...@google.com:

mobileadssdk-a...@google.com

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May 9, 2018, 1:06:11 PM5/9/18
to Martin, Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hi Martin,

The Consent SDK provides up to three options on the consent dialog, these are:

1) Personalized ads
2) Non-personalized ads
3) Ad free

The first two constitute consent to show ads to the user (personalized or non-personalized as the case may be).

The third option is up to you. As previously mentioned, a common use case will be to send the user to the store listing for the premium version of your app.

I'm not able to advise what strategy your app should take and whether this constitutes compliance from the point of view of GDPR, I can only advise what options you have with the Consent SDK to help you be compliant.

Regards

Sam
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Also find us on our blog and Google+ page:
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Frank Larsen

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May 21, 2018, 10:11:44 AM5/21/18
to Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
I could find the documentation for consent SDK but the SDK itself is not available. The link says it will be available by mid may but its not. Can you provide a link to consent SDK for iOS ?

mobileadssdk-a...@google.com

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May 21, 2018, 1:48:49 PM5/21/18
to Frank Larsen, Google Mobile Ads SDK Developers
Hi,

Please find the instructions for importing the Consent SDK on the updated docs page.

Regards

Sam

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Also find us on our blog and Google+ page:
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    https://plus.google.com/115658573333388777174/
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