IAB Tech Lab releases updated TCF Canada and GPP String Specifications for Public Comment

Privacy and technology industry group IAB Tech Lab yesterday released updates to the TCF Canada section string and GPP core string specifications for public review and comment.

What's New:

• TCF Canada Section:
  • PubRestrictions Field: Added to define publisher restrictions based on TCF Canada Policies.
  • Disclosed Vendors Sub-Section (Optional): Allows CMPs to store disclosed vendors for internal use.
• GPP Core String:
  • ArrayOfRanges and N-ArrayOfRanges(X,Y) Data Types: Introduced for efficient representation of ID ranges, particularly within TCF Canada string.

The updated specifications aim to improve compliance with Canadian privacy regulations and enhance flexibility for representing publisher restrictions and vendor disclosures.

The public is invited to submit comments on these updates until March 13th via email to support@iabtechlab.com

The Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) is a framework designed to help publishers, technology vendors, agencies, advertisers, and digital marketers comply with Canadian privacy laws. It does this by providing technical specifications and policy documents that help these groups clearly and consistently communicate with users about how their data is being used. It also gives users the ability to object to certain data uses and manage their consent preferences.

The TCF is a collaborative effort between the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Canada and other industry stakeholders. It was developed in response to Canada's Digital Charter, which came into effect in 2020. The Digital Charter requires organizations to obtain meaningful consent from users before collecting, using, or disclosing their personal information.

The TCF is a flexible framework that can be adapted to different business models and technologies. It is also designed to be interoperable with other privacy frameworks, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe.