GDPR Not consenting still shows test ads on iOS Simulator/Device

[rina]

I have taken the 'Awesome Drawing Test Mob App' and amended it so that it will show the GDPR & ATT dialogs (IDFA will also show with my AdMob ID). All existing functionality within the app works, i.e the Banner Ads get displayed, Hint Award Ads get displayed and when you close the Game, the interstitial ads get displayed.

However, after reading many posts about GDPR etc - I was under the impression that ADs will not get displayed if a user that is presented with the GDPR dialog DOES NOT CONSENT.

My GDPR dialog appears - I do not consent and yet I still see Test Ads. Additionally - If I do not consent then I do not see the ATT dialog which is the expected behaviour.

I amended info.plist, added my GADApplicationIdentifier and also supplied the 49 SKAdNetworkItems, and added a NSUserTrackingUsageDescription key.

Deleting the app and running again shows correctly the GDPR dialog again which is expected behaviour.

So, to summarise - I need clarification on whether ads (Test or Live) should be displayed on a device/simulator when a user does not consent, i,e select :

X - close window on GDPR dialog

DO NOT CONSENT button

Manage Option Button and toggle off ALL options

Environment 

I am testing specifically on iOS.

XCode 14.3

AdMob 4.0.0

iOS Simulators 16.4

Flutter 3.7.12

Dart 2.19.6 

DevTools 2.20.1

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Thank you for contacting the Mobile Ads SDK Support team.

I will check with our team regarding your query and one of my team members will reach out to you once we have an update on this. Meanwhile, your patience is highly appreciated.

This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02rzi5Y:ref"

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

 

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Rina,


Limited Ads serving applies if there is no consent for IAB TCF Purpose 1 in accordance with the EU user consent policy. 

See Ad serving modes for more information.

Hope this helps,
Nick

ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02rzi5Y:ref

[rina]

Thanks for the clarification Nick - so just to clarify 100%,

Can you confirm the conditions when limited/personalised ads will be shown from below conditions:

GDPR Consent  NO ===> Show limited ads

GDPR Consent YES, ATT NO ===> Show Limited Ads

GDPR Consent YES => Show full ads

GDPR Consent  YES, ATT YES => Show full ads

And finally, we have a setting in AdMob console, Settings-> Account-> Programmatic Limited Ads. I have noticed that EVEN when this is turned off and a user does not consent to GDPR/ATT then ads are still shown. Is this the correct behaviour?

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Rina,

"GDPR Consent  NO ===> Show limited ads" This is correct.
"GDPR Consent YES, ATT NO ===> Show Limited Ads" This is incorrect. If a user consents to GDPR but not ATT the ad will most likely be considered "personalization disabled". It is not as restrictive as limited ads or non-personalized ads.  

"GDPR Consent YES => Show full ads" This is correct.
"GDPR Consent  YES, ATT YES => Show full ads" This is correct. 

See our Ad serving modes doc and serving restrictions dimensions for more information. 

To answer your other questions, limited ads always attempts to serve ads. If you are seeing ads in Limited Ads mode that can be considered an expected behavior. 

Thanks,
Justin

ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02rzi5Y:ref