GDPR & CCPA

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Keep in mind that it’s best to contact qualified legal professionals, if you haven’t done so already, to get more information and be well-prepared for compliance.

The General Data Protection Regulation, better known as GDPR, took effect on May 25, 2018. It’s a set of rules designed to give EU citizens more control over their personal data. Any businesses established in the EU or with users based in Europe are required to comply with GDPR or risk facing heavy fines. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) went into effect on January 1, 2020. We have put together some guidelines to help publishers understand better the steps they need to take to be GDPR compliant.

You can learn more about GDPR and CCPA and their differences here.

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Step 1. Update Privacy Policy

Include Additional Information To Your Privacy Policy

Don’t forget to add information about IP address and advertising ID collection, as well as the link to Appodeal’s privacy policy to your app’s privacy policy on the App Store.

To speed up the process, you could use privacy policy generators - just insert advertising ID, IP address, and location (if you collect users’ location) in the Personally Identifiable Information you collect field (in line with other information about your app) and the link to Appodeal’s privacy policy in the Link to the privacy policy of third party service providers used by the app field.

Add A Privacy Policy To Your Mobile App

You must add your explicit privacy policies in two places: on your app’s Store Listing page and within your app.

You can find detailed instructions on adding your privacy policy to your app on legal service websites. For example, Iubenda, the solution tailored to legal compliance, provides a comprehensive guide on including a privacy policy in your app.

Make sure that your privacy policy website has an SSL certificate—this point might seem obvious, but it’s still essential.

Here are two useful resources that you can utilize while working on your app compliance:

• Privacy, Security and Deception regulations (by Google Play)
• Recommendations on Developing a Meaningful Privacy Policy (by Attorney General California Department of Justice)

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Please note that although we’re always eager to back you up with valuable information, we’re not authorized to provide any legal advice. It’s important to address your questions to lawyers who specialize in this area.

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Step 2. Configure Stack Consent Manager with TCF v2 Support

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Since Appodeal SDK 3.2.1 it is fully compatible with Google UMP and supports IAB TCF v2.

In order for Appodeal and our ad providers to deliver ads that are more relevant to your users, as a mobile app publisher, you need to collect explicit user consent in the regions covered by GDPR and CCPA.

To get consent for collecting personal data of your users, we suggest you use a ready-made solution - Stack Consent Manager based on Google User Messaging Platform (UMP).

Configure Google UMP

Before you start, you need to configure Google UMP. Follow this instruction to setup a consent form.

Step 3. Integrate Stack Consent Manager

Stack Consent Manager comes with a pre-made consent window that you can easily present to your users. That means you no longer need to create your own consent window.

Starting from Appodeal SDK 3.0, Stack Consent Manager is included by default.

Consent will be requested automatically on SDK initialization, and consent form will be shown if it is necessary without any additional calls.

Please keep in mind that Consent will be shown only in the EU and California regions, you can use VPN for testing.

This means that Appodeal SDK integration code remains the same:

UPM Distribution

private void Start()
{
    int adTypes = AppodealAdType.Interstitial | AppodealAdType.Banner | AppodealAdType.RewardedVideo | AppodealAdType.Mrec;
    string appKey = "YOUR_APPODEAL_APP_KEY";
    AppodealCallbacks.Sdk.OnInitialized += OnInitializationFinished;
    Appodeal.Initialize(appKey, adTypes);
}

#region Initialization Callback

public void OnInitializationFinished(object sender, SdkInitializedEventArgs e) { }

#endregion

Manual Distribution

class Test : IAppodealInitializationListener
{
    private void Start()
    {
        int adTypes = Appodeal.INTERSTITIAL | Appodeal.BANNER | Appodeal.REWARDED_VIDEO | Appodeal.MREC;
        string appKey = "YOUR_APPODEAL_APP_KEY";
        Appodeal.initialize(appKey, adTypes, this);
    }

    #region Initialization Callback

    public void onInitializationFinished(List<string> errors) { }

    #endregion
}

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