IAB TCF 2.4,
validated and built in
The Transparency & Consent Framework is how consent travels through the advertising ecosystem: one standard signal, read by Google and hundreds of vendors. Clickio Consent is a TCF 2.4 validated CMP: the signal is generated, distributed and enforced for you.
Trusted by 2,000+clients worldwide
What the TCF actually does
IAB Europe's Transparency & Consent Framework standardizes how a visitor's choices are captured, encoded and shared, so every party in the ad chain acts on the same signal.
One encoded signal
The visitor's per-purpose and per-vendor choices are encoded into a TC string. Every downstream party decodes the same string: no bespoke integrations, no ambiguity about what was consented to.
A registered ecosystem
Vendors register with IAB Europe on the Global Vendor List, declaring their purposes and legal bases. Your dialog discloses exactly the vendors you work with, and Clickio keeps the list current as the GVL updates.
The Google requirement
Google requires publishers serving personalized ads to users in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland to use a Google-certified CMP integrated with TCF. Clickio is certified (Gold Tier) and TCF 2.4 validated, so your eligibility is covered.
TCF in Clickio: complete, not just compliant
- Full TCF 2.4 implementation: the current framework version, with the Disclosed Vendors segment of the TC string that v2.3 made mandatory, on top of the v2.2 improvements: standardized texts, vendor counts shown in the first layer, and easy withdrawal built in.
- Granular controls for visitors: per-purpose and per-vendor consent, legitimate-interest objections, and special-feature opt-ins, all in the languages you enable.
- Controls for you: curate your vendor list, toggle purposes, decide whether legitimate interest is available; the Cookie Scanner tells you which TCF vendors are actually on your pages.
- Enforced on-page: TCF events drive tag orchestration: the ad stack, Consent Mode signals and attribute-gated scripts all follow the TC string.
- TCF is per-regulation in Clickio: enabled for GDPR where it belongs; non-TCF modes serve regulations like India where the framework doesn't apply
- __tcfapi provided: the standard API surface vendors' scripts call to read consent
- Works with GPP: European TCF signals and US GPP signals from the same installation
Frequently asked questions
Do I need TCF if I don't run ads?
Usually not: TCF exists for the advertising ecosystem. Sites without advertising typically run Clickio in non-TCF mode, which still delivers full GDPR consent with purposes, vendors and records. You can enable TCF later if you start monetizing.
What changed in TCF v2.2?
v2.2 tightened the framework: legitimate interest can no longer be claimed for advertising personalization purposes, user-facing texts were standardized and simplified, vendor counts must be disclosed up front, and withdrawing consent must be as easy as giving it. These rules carry forward into TCF 2.4, the current version, which Clickio implements as a validated CMP.
What happens if my consent signals are wrong?
Ad demand that requires valid TCF signals stops bidding, and Google can restrict serving to EEA/UK traffic. Invalid signals cost real revenue before any regulator gets involved, and certification and validation exist precisely to prevent this.
Can I choose which vendors appear in my dialog?
Yes, on Pro and above. You curate your vendor list rather than shipping the entire Global Vendor List, which keeps the dialog honest and consent rates healthier. The Cookie Scanner shows you which vendors your site actually uses, so the list matches reality.
Is TCF enough for GDPR compliance on its own?
TCF standardizes advertising consent, but it doesn't cover everything the GDPR asks of a site. Clickio pairs it with non-TCF purposes for your other tools, first-party cookie management, consent records and enforcement, so the whole picture is covered.
This guide is general information for site owners, not legal advice. Check the current text of the law and your own counsel for your situation.
Explore other regulations
Every guide shows how the same Clickio tag serves the right consent experience for that market. Pick the next one that applies to your audience.
TCF 2.4 signals are included on every plan; paid plans start with a 14-day free trial.
TCF 2.4 signals are on every plan. Geo-specific vendor lists start on Starter; custom TCF and Google ATP vendor lists on Pro.