Skip to content
Tutorials
Consent Management
Consent Management Fundamentals
Methods of Consent

Consent Fundamentals: Methods of Consent

5minFidesConsent Management

In this page, we'll review the various methods of consent and their requirements.

Methods of Consent

There are several methods for gathering consent, based on the location of the visitor and the applied regulations. Below are the most common:

  • Explicit, informed consent is when a user is properly informed about the use of their data in order to give consent.
    • Opt-In: the user must opt-in to the processing of data before any of their data can be processed.
    • Opt-Out: the user may opt-out at any time in the future, at which point their data must stop being processed.
Consent Management - Opt-in vs. Opt-out

The image above showcases two different approaches. In the first, the user has to explictly opt-in to Marketing activites for their data to be processed for that purpose. In the second, the user has to specifically opt-out of their data being used for Data Sales, which they can do at any time.

Methods of Consent are the method used to collect consent, such as implicit, explicit opt-in or opt-out consent.

Opt-In Consent

Opt-In consent is more common in Europe (EEA) and is sometimes known as "cookie consent" or a "cookie banner." However, this can be misleading as it implies the requirement is to manage cookies or that it requires a banner.

Consent Management - Opt-in Example

The goal, instead, is to ensure personal data is only proessed for the express uses that are agreed upon by the visitor and is not about cookies, or about banners! Examples of opt-in consent can include:

  • Email marketing: opting in to receive a newsletter or other marketing materials.
  • Healthcare: opting in to processing of personal medical data for healthcare purposes.

Opt-Out Consent

Opt-Out consent is more common in the United States, particularly in response to new data privacy regulations such as CCPA and VCDPA. Read about US Privacy Regulations here.

Consent Management - Opt-out Example

Opt-Out consent provides the visitor the ability to opt-out at any time, now or in the future, of a data processing activity such as advertising if they no longer wish to be included. Examples of opt-out consent include:

  • Data Sales: opting out of the processing of personal data for purposes that constitute a "sale" under the CCPA.
  • Targeted Advertising: opting out of the processing of personal data for the purpose of targeted advertising.
Privacy NoticesPrivacy Experiences