Set Up a Banner That Meets Google's Consent Requirements
Google's EU user consent policy applies when you use a Google product that incorporates it. It says you must ensure that "certain disclosures are given to, and consents obtained from, end users in the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland". This page sets out what Google asks a consent banner to include, and shows how to configure an Arqam360 banner that covers it when you use Google Consent Mode without IAB TCF. Everything is set in the dashboard, with a live preview. You don't need to write any code.
What Google's EU user consent policy asks for
The policy says you must obtain end users' legally valid consent to "the use of cookies or other local storage where legally required" and "the collection, sharing, and use of personal data for personalization of ads". When seeking consent you must "retain records of consent given by end users" and "provide end users with clear instructions for revocation of consent". Google's help page for the policy adds a checklist for the consent notice:
- Purposes: tell visitors their data is used for personalization of ads, "with specific reference to 'ads personalization' on the first layer of your consent mechanism/banner".
- Affirmative action: give visitors "an option to take affirmative action to indicate consent e.g. clicking an 'OK' button or an 'I agree' button".
- Third parties: disclose which third parties, including Google, will have access to the data you collect.
- Google's Business Data Responsibility site: link to it "either directly on your consent notice, or via a link to your privacy policy page (provided that the link is visible on the first layer of that page), or under 'More Info' or a similar link in the consent notice".
- Withdrawal: "It needs to be as easy for a user to revoke consent as it was to initially provide consent."
- Timing: consent for personalized ads, and for cookies where legally required, "should be obtained before Google's Advertiser tags are fired". With Consent Mode, Arqam360 sets every consent type to denied before your Google tags run, and changes it only when the visitor chooses.
What Google asks of a consent platform's banner
Google's requirements for consent management platforms (CMPs) describe a banner the site owner can fully configure from a graphical interface, and a banner template that: "a. Explains data is collected for personalization and analytic purposes b. Links to https://business.safety.google/privacy c. Includes an affirmative consent option". Google also asks the CMP to recommend that template when Consent Mode is used without TCF. Arqam360's default banner, with its default text, its Accept All button and the Google privacy link, is that template. The steps below keep it intact, or rebuild it if you have changed it.
Configure the banner in Arqam360
Open your dashboard and go to Banner. Every setting below is on that screen, and the preview beside it updates as you make changes. Click Save Changes when you're done.
Keep a message that states the purposes
In Text Content, leave Banner Description empty to use the default text, which is translated for each language: "We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized ads or content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies." If you write your own, keep both purposes in it: personalized ads and analytics. Custom text replaces the default in every language, so write it in the language your visitors read.
Keep a clear choice: accept and reject
Every banner style shows an Accept All button and a Reject All button, plus Customize, which opens the categories. You can rename them in Text Content (Accept Button, Reject Button, Customize Button). Keep the labels plain, such as "Accept all" and "Reject all", so the affirmative option is obvious.
Turn on the Google privacy link
In Policy Links, switch on Google privacy link. The banner then shows a link, "How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services", to https://business.safety.google/privacy, on the banner itself and in the preferences panel. It is on by default for accounts created since the setting was added; check it on older accounts. While TCF is off, the dashboard shows "Recommended when you use Google Consent Mode without TCF" under the switch.
Add your privacy policy
In Policy Links, add your Privacy Policy URL, and your Cookie Policy URL if you have one. Both links appear in the banner. Your privacy policy is where you name the third parties, including Google, that receive data from your site.
Check the categories
The banner offers Necessary (always on), Analytics, Marketing and Preferences. Analytics controls analytics_storage. Marketing controls ad_storage, ad_user_data and ad_personalization. In the standard setup each of these starts denied and changes only when the visitor chooses.
Set the language
In Badge & Behavior, Default Language set to Auto shows the banner in your page's language (from <html lang>), then in the visitor's browser language. Choose English or العربية to force one. Turn on Language Switcher to add an EN/AR toggle inside the banner.
Leave a way back to the choice
In Badge & Behavior, keep Show Floating Badge on. The badge stays on the page after the visitor chooses, and clicking it reopens the banner so they can change or withdraw their choice. If you turn it off, add your own link (see below).
Let visitors reopen their preferences from your own link
If you hide the badge, or want a link in your footer as well, call window.consentiq.openSettings(). It opens the preferences panel, where the visitor can switch each category on or off and save.
<a href="#" onclick="window.consentiq.openSettings(); return false;">Cookie settings</a>Check the result
Open your site in a private window
The banner opens with the purposes text, Accept All and Reject All, your privacy policy link and the Google privacy link. If you have already made a choice on that browser, add #consentiq-test to the URL to force the banner open.
Check the default in Tag Assistant
Connect Tag Assistant (tagassistant.google.com) to your site. On the Consent tab, the On-page Default shows ad_storage, analytics_storage, ad_user_data and ad_personalization as Denied.
Reject, then accept
Click Reject All: the On-page Update keeps all four Denied. Add ?consentiq-reset to the URL to clear the choice, reload, and click Accept All: the update shows all four Granted.
Reopen the choice
Click the badge, or your own link, and check that the banner or the preferences panel opens.
How Arqam360 sends the visitor's choice to Google: Set up Google Consent Mode v2.
To rename categories or add your own: Configure consent categories.
To see in your browser's console whether the consent default runs before your Google tags: Debug mode: check your consent load order.
Consent Mode or TCF signals missing or wrong on your Google tags? Contact Arqam360 support first, not Google. Email admin@arqam360.com or use our contact page. We troubleshoot your Arqam360 setup, your banner and your Consent Mode signals, on every plan. Google support may ask for proof that you contacted your consent management platform first.
Google documentation
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