Global Privacy Control (GPC) is a browser-based privacy signal designed to automatically communicate a user’s opt-out preference for the sale or sharing of their personal data when they visit websites.

When a user enables GPC in their web browser or through a browser extension, their browser sends a special HTTP header that tells websites that a visitor does not want their personal data sold or shared.

Why GPC Matters

In the context of privacy regulations, GPC is particularly relevant under:

California Privacy Laws (CCPA/CPRA)
  • The CPRA (California Privacy Rights Act) explicitly states that businesses must honor a user-enabled global privacy control like GPC.
  • Ignoring GPC when it is enabled can be considered a violation of the law.
EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
  • While not officially recognized under GDPR yet, GPC aligns with GDPR’s principles of consent and data minimization.
  • It could, in the future, be interpreted as a signal of consent refusal, especially if implemented in a clear and informed manner.
Other US State Privacy Laws
  • Some laws (e.g., Colorado Privacy Act, Connecticut Data Privacy Act) will require businesses to honor universal opt-out mechanisms, which could include GPC.

GPC in Cookie Compliance

Websites that use Cookie Compliance with Global Privacy Control enabled:

  • Detect GPC signals sent by the browser,
  • Automatically treat the visitor as having opted out of tracking for sale or sharing purposes,
  • Refrain from setting non-essential or advertising cookies,
  • Inform users that their GPC preference is being respected.

Enable GPC support in One Click

Cookie Compliance makes it easy to respect your users’ privacy choices—including GPC signals—with just a single setting.

You can enable GPC support directly from your Cookie Compliance dashboard by going to:

Configuration page → Consent tab → “GPC Support” toggle

Once enabled, Cookie Compliance will automatically detect GPC signals sent by users’ browsers and treat them as valid opt-out requests..

Supporting GPC is a simple, future-friendly way to strengthen your privacy posture and reduce regulatory risk—without extra complexity.

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