CMP (Consent Management Platform)
A Consent Management Platform (CMP) helps organizations collect, manage, and document user consent for cookies, data processing, and personalized advertising in compliance with privacy laws.
What is a Consent Management Platform (CMP)?
A Consent Management Platform (CMP) is a tool that enables organizations to request, capture, and record user consent for data collection and tracking technologies such as cookies or pixels. CMPs display consent banners, store consent preferences, and integrate with downstream systems to ensure lawful data use. They are central to privacy compliance programs under laws like the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive, which require transparency and explicit consent before processing personal data for marketing or analytics purposes.
Why a Consent Management Platform (CMP) matters
CMPs ensure that organizations comply with global privacy regulations and respect individual privacy preferences. By managing consent centrally, they reduce compliance risk and enhance user trust.
Regulatory frameworks such as the GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, and CPRA require valid consent before processing personal data for targeted advertising or behavioral analytics. A CMP allows businesses to automate compliance with these requirements while maintaining consistent user experiences across regions and devices.
Implementing a CMP also helps marketing and analytics teams maintain data accuracy and accountability, ensuring that only consented data is processed for personalization and reporting.
How a Consent Management Platform (CMP) is used in practice
- Displaying cookie banners and consent prompts on websites and mobile apps
- Recording user consent choices and syncing them across marketing and CRM systems
- Integrating with IAB TCF (Transparency and Consent Framework) for advertising compliance
- Supporting region-specific configurations for GDPR, CPRA, and ePrivacy Directive requirements
- Enabling consent audits and proof of compliance through centralized reporting
- Allowing users to update or withdraw consent at any time
Related laws & standards
- EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- Cookie Consent
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
- California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)
- IAB Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF)
How OneTrust helps with Consent Management Platforms (CMPs)
OneTrust’s Consent Management Platform enables organizations to build and customize consent banners, automate preference management, and integrate user choices across marketing and analytics systems. The solution helps maintain compliance with global privacy laws while optimizing user trust and transparency.
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FAQs about Consent Management Platforms (CMPs)
A CMP manages consent for tracking technologies such as cookies, while a preference center allows users to manage broader communication and data-sharing preferences across channels.
CMP implementation is typically a joint effort between marketing, IT, and privacy teams. Legal and compliance teams oversee regulatory alignment, while web development ensures technical deployment and tracking integration.
Under the GDPR, organizations must obtain explicit consent before processing non-essential cookies or personal data for advertising. A CMP helps document consent and ensures lawful processing consistent with GDPR requirements.
