How to Geographically Target Cookie Compliance

CookieScript comes with a handy feature to geographically target the Cookie Banner or even show different banners to users from different countries. You can select from 250 countries and 50 US states.

How to show Cookie Banner only in some countries

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation created for all websites that operate and collect user data within EU member states. It is not required to collect consent from visitors coming outside of the European Union.

A similar rule applies to California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), so some websites might be interested in showing Cookie Consent popup only for visitors from California.

Many countries and US states have different privacy regulations with different requirements for the Cookie Banner and cookie control.

In order to meet our client demand, we have created a feature that allows you to select visitors from which countries should see your banner. This can be set when getting code from the Install tab in the banner settings:

CookieScript geo-targeting settings.

The list includes 250 countries and 50 US states. You can select several countries or US states at once and create a combination that will meet your needs. You can also type the name to search in the list and find the necessary country or state faster.

If the user comes from a different location, our script will not show the banner and automatically enable all third-party scripts that are disabled (if any).

Make sure you copy the banner code after you have adjusted the geo-targeting since instructions for geo-targeting are included in the banner code.

The United Kingdom is no longer included in the list of EU member states, so you have to include it separately if necessary.

How to show different banners for each country

Since privacy regulations are very different, we have added the possibility to include different banners for different countries (states). This basically allows you to create an individual Cookie Banner for every country and adjust behavior for each country. For example, you can show Cookie Banner in Explicit consent mode for California users and Implied consent mode for other US states and countries. Another handy scenario would be showing big popup with a Cookie Declaration table with Cookie Categories control for EU countries and a simple text popup for countries without strict Privacy Regulations. 

Scripts will not conflict with each other and the proper script will be taken for each location.

How to set up geo-targeting with several banners

It's fairly easy to configure one banner for one set of locations (ex: EU, California, and United Kingdom) and another banner for the rest of the world. Just create two different banners in your account, configure each of them, and include both banners on your website. Make sure you adjust geo-targeting for one banner and keep it set as Global for the other. 

You can now include both banners on your website, they will work perfectly together and only one will be shown at a time, depending on user locations.

Make sure you always include the Global banner as the last one in your website code.

Since each banner is configured separately, you would need to create several banners in your account. Each banner will be counted as a separate website when calculating your account limits.

Setting up more than 2 Cookie Banners

In a similar manner, you can create more than two Cookie Banners for the same website and geographically target each of them, they will work properly together. Just make sure the globally targeted banner (if used) is included as the last one.

Important notes when using geo-targeting

Few more things to note when using geo-targeting:

1. It requires you to update the CookieScript code on your website if you are not using geo-targeting yet. GEO-targeting instructions are included in the code that you add to your website.
2. All third-party scripts will be automatically activated if a visitor comes outside of a geo-targeted location and there are no assigned banners for his location.
3. GEO-targeting does not work with self-hosted code since visitor IP is checked on CookieScript servers.

How to set up GEO-targeting in Google Tag Manager

If you are using the CookieScript Google Tag Manager template, you can find your banner code for the template settings in the Install section of your banner > Cookie Banner code > Your code > Google Tag Manager tab:

Googe Tag Manager tab

GEO-targeting is included in selected Pricing Plans, see our pricing plans for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GEO-targeting?

Since the privacy laws of different countries and US states are very different, the websites should use different cookie banners for different locations. Different privacy laws could be complied with using a function of GEO-targeting, the practice of delivering different Cookie Banner to website users based on their geographic locations. Website users will see only that banner, which is needed for that particular location. Businesses can set up different cookie banners with different settings. They will not conflict with each other and the proper script will be taken for each location.CookieScript Consent Management Platform offers geo-targeting, which allows you allows you to select locations from 250 countries and 50 US states and comply with the privacy laws of these countries.

How to use GEO-targeting?

It's very easy to set up a geo-targeting function with Cookie Script. First, you have to create an individual Cookie Banner for every country and adjust its behavior for that country's privacy laws. For example, you can show Cookie Banner in Explicit cookie consent mode for California users and Implied cookie consent mode for other US states and countries. Different Cookie Banner Scripts will not conflict with each other and the proper script will be taken for each location. Second, you have to set up a GEO-targeting function with several banners. Make sure you adjust a geo-targeting for your banners and the globally targeted banner (if used) is included as the last one. Third, update the CookieScript code on your website. The geo-targeting is ready! Visit the detailed guide on how to set up geo-targeting for more details.

Does geo-targeting use cookies?

Geo-targeting delivers different Cookie Banner to website users based on their geographic locations, so it relies on cookies. Different cookies are activated for different website users, based on their geographic locations. Read about geo-targeting for more details.

Is it possible to show different Cookie Banners for different locations?

Yes, this could be done using a geo-targeting function, which delivers different Cookie Banner to website users based on their geographic locations. Since privacy laws of different countries and US states are very different, several different cookie banners could be set up for different locations. CookieScript geo-targeting function allows you to select locations from 250 countries and 50 US states.

What is geo-targeting used for?

First, geo-targeting could be used for your website to comply with different privacy laws. Since the privacy laws of different countries and US states are very different, the websites should use different cookie banners for different locations. Different privacy laws could be complied with using geo-targeting by delivering different Cookie Banner to website users based on their geographic locations. Second, geo-targeting could be used for advertisers to specify the location they want their ads to show. Advertisers can choose different content for their ads based on geographic locations.