UMP SDK iOS: No ads when choose "do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices"

[Martin]

Hello,

When the Google UMP SDK is implemented in iOS apps with AdMob and users choose "Do not consent", or tap "Manage options" > "Confirm choices" then NO ADS AT ALL will be displayed.

I noticed this behavior in many other apps that you can simply get rid of ads by choosing "Do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices". That can't be intended behavior. Both Google and publishers won't earn any money in this case.

But shouldn't at least still limited ads or non-personalized ads be displayed instead of no ads at all?

How do you make sure to still show (limited/non-personalized) ads when using Google's UMP SDK and users tap "do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices"?

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Martin

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Martin,

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.!5004Q02rYfNZ:ref"

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

 

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Martin,

You are right. The expected behavior is that you should still get limited ads. Have you checked if consent status is obtained before requesting an ad?

The API to check is UMPConsentInformation.sharedInstance.canRequestAds on iOS and consentInformation.canRequestAds on Android.

Thanks,
Jill
Google Mobile Ads SDK Team

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[Martin]

Hi Jill,

Thank you for your reply.

The app already is checking if consent status is obtained before requesting the ad, like you described and like Google's documents show.

However, ads only show up if consent is given and don't show up if no consent is given (i.e. if user taps "Do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices").

That seems to be a huge issue. I'm also noticing this issue in so many other (iOS) apps that use Google's UMP SDK.

Also there are many threads here talking about the same issue, but to be quite frank I have the feeling Google doesn't really understand the problem. In the other threads where people are complaining about the same issue Google's responses seem to be missing the point.

Do you have an example implementation for iOS besides your official documents? It's already implemented how your official documents describe and consent status is obtained before requesting the ad, but still no ads show up if no consent is given, but actually limited ads should still be shown, as you confirmed.

Thank you so much.

Kind regards,

Martin

[netl...@gmail.com]

This is a known issue and you can thank the EU for this. Because non-personalized ads also use cookies/tracking, you will basically get no ads at all, at least for now, Google might start showing those "Limited" ads sometime in the near future, but don't expect any good CPM from them.

[Martin]

But Google still does show limited ads even if you don’t have a certified CMP (Consent Management Platform) implemented at all, so Googles CMP (UMP) should at least show limited ads if the user taps "Do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices". 

„If a partner does not adopt a Google-certified CMP, only limited ads will be eligible to serve“

 (https://support.google.com/admob/answer/13554116?hl=en)

[netl...@gmail.com]

As of now, there are no limited ads, I've never seen them, nobody has. So, your implementation is most likely correct if you see ads when you tap on Consent.

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Martin,

Per https://support.google.com/admob/answer/10105530?hl=en-GB&sjid=4234328227568648733-EU:

"The initial product offering will support waterfall mediation in AdMob. Campaigns will not serve in AdMob in the event of a limited ad signal.

Programmatic demand is not eligible for limited ads. This includes Programmatic Guaranteed, Preferred Deals, Private Auction, Open Auction for Google demand and third-party demand, including Authorised Buyers and Open Bidding. Google demand as part of a mediation chain isn’t supported."

If you don't have mediation partners configured I'm afraid that it's working as intended that no Google Ads is returned. However, later in Q1 2024, we will roll out support for Programmatic Limited Ads where 3rd party buyers under the “AdMob Network” may still fill. The exact date is not guaranteed.

Best,

[Martin]

Hi Jill,

Thank you for your reply. 

So if an app shows the consent message from Google's UMP SDK and the user taps "Do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices", then it really is what Google wants that no ads at all from Google AdMob will appear?

So every user can simply get rid of ads completely by simply tapping "Do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices"?

Many apps have in-app purchases where users have to pay for using an app without ads. But now users can simply remove ads by not giving consent in Google's consent message? That will mean publishers and Google won't earn any ad revenue at all if a user does not give consent. It also makes in-app purchases in so many apps obsolete and should quickly be resolved by Google. No one will still pay for removing ads if the user can simply tap on "Do not consent" or "Manage options" > "Confirm choices" in Google's consent message to remove ads for free.

Thats a huge issue that should quickly be resolved in any way. Both Google and publishers won't earn any ad revenue when users can simply choose to not have and ads at all in Google's consent message.

Kind regards,

Martin

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi Martin,

As of today, AdMob Network will not fill if users consent to no, but the Google Mobile Ads SDK will still forward the ad request to third party mediation partners if you have configured any. Third parties, then, by their policy will perhaps have ads to serve, so to mitigate revenue loss, please consider including some bidding partners in your AdMob UI.

In addition, Google Ads is working on supporting Programmatic Limited Ads where 3rd party buyers under the “AdMob Network” may still fill, but this feature is work in progress.

Best,
Jill

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