While 2026 is already well underway, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the great work achieved through the Transparency & Consent Framework (TCF) in 2025, and to share what’s coming up next and how you can get involved. From continued ecosystem collaboration to meaningful progress on transparency and trust, 2025 marked an important year for the TCF. As we look ahead, it’s set to be an exciting year for the Framework, and we can’t wait to take you on this journey with us.
A clearer path forward with TCF v2.3
In 2025, we released TCF Version 2.3, a significant evolution of the Framework designed to clarify vendor disclosure. The update introduces a mandatory disclosed vendors segment in the TC String, giving vendors greater legal certainty around whether they were shown to users in CMP interfaces. A transition period is now underway, running until 28th February, after which all newly created TC Strings must comply with v2.3, marking a major step forward for transparency and trust across the ecosystem.
Read more in our article here.
Enhanced Device Storage & Operational Disclosures
Another important milestone was the update to the Device Storage Duration and Operational Disclosures specification. This update strengthens transparency by enabling vendors to provide clearer, more comprehensive disclosures around cookies and other storage mechanisms, including for non-TCF purposes and for Special Purposes. Vendors are also required to declare their SDK package identifiers for mobile environments where applicable. These changes support transparency for end-users and TCF participants..
Find out more here.
TCF Compliance Report
In order to provide the TCF Community with enhanced transparency over the functioning of the Compliance Programmes, IAB Europe has published last year its first annual report for 2024. The report presents the auditing mechanisms put in place by IAB Europe to monitor compliance of participants with the TCF Policies, the number of TCF participants that have been audited in 2024 and key findings from the TCF Compliance team. Stay tuned for the 2025 report that will be published in the coming months!
Find out more here.
As we move further into 2026, several developments will shape the next phase of the TCF.
The rollout of TCF v2.3 continues, with ecosystem participants expected to finalise technical updates ahead of the 1st March compliance deadline. Ensuring systems can correctly write, read, and process the disclosed vendors segment will be a key priority as adoption accelerates.
In parallel, an important regulatory milestone was reached earlier this month, when IAB Europe won its appeal against the Belgian Data Protection Authority’s (APD) January 2023 decision on the TCF. The Belgian Market Court found that the APD’s decision to validate the action plan was legally flawed and annulled it accordingly. As a result, the Belgian Data Protection Authority will now be required to take a new decision that reflects the narrower scope of IAB Europe’s joint controllership, as determined by both the European Court of Justice and the Market Court.
IAB Europe will continue to keep the market informed as the matter returns to the APD for further proceedings. Together, these developments support the continued development of a more transparent, robust, and sustainable Framework in the year ahead, and we’re looking forward to working closely with our community to continue its success in 2026.
For more information on the TCF, our work, and how you can get involved, please contact the team at framework [at] iabeurope.eu.
