Error message: We've detected an issue on your IAB TC string

[guarriman3]

Hi,

Starting in December 2021, I use the Google's system to show GDPR and CCPA messages (https://www.webmasterworld.com/google_adsense/5053969.htm)

Now, on the top of my AdSense account, I'm seeing the following message ir red:

We've detected an issue on your IAB TC string on one or more of your sites or apps. These errors may affect your ability to serve ads to European users. A detailed report is available for you on the EU user consent page.

I'm requested to download a "TCF error report", I downloaded a CSV file with just one row, with the following content:
- Domain: mydomain.com
- Ad unit: 1234567
- Error: 3.3
- Error count: 20
- Last detected date: 16.07.2023

I'm also requested to "make certain disclosure" under the Google EU USer Content Policy. However, I do not know what to do. Any help is appreciated.

According to Google supporting pages (https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/9999955?hl=en), if you suffer from 3.3 errors, "CMP should delete the old TC string and reobtain consent", but I do not understand this advice.

[not2easy]

Others have encountered that error recently: [webmasterworld.com...]

There is also a discussion about a recent change for AdSense users

require Adsense publishers to put up a CMP notice on their sites in relation to the GDPR which requires publishers to inform EU users about their options for personalized/non personalized data collection

with a link to Google's article. That discussion is primarily about Adsense publishers with EEA and UK traffic: [webmasterworld.com...] - in case that includes your traffic.

[LucasPerez]

@guarrimán3
that notice corresponds to one of your ad units, in this case the one you indicate 1234567.
The notice will go away in 7-8 exact days.
Count from the last notice the 7-8 days and the notice disappears.

I have read that it is because an automatic ad overlaps a fixed block ad, that's why it causes that error and gives Adsense that notice.

It has nothing to do with the GDPR or the IAB TCF but by putting the initials Adsense, it confuses the user.

I have had enough of these notices months ago

[Swanny007]

I am also getting the exact same error as the OP, the only difference is my CSV file does not mention any specific ad unit.
Domain: example.com
Error count: 30
Last detected date: 8/16/2023

I am using AdSense's built-in GDPR, it has been running just fine for a long time now. Is there some setting somewhere that I need to change? I looked at AdSense's own help but it led me to some code changes to re-request consent. I'm 100% lost on that part.

This is what Google says to do on their developer help page regarding 3.3:

Troubleshooting

Error 3.3: The TC string last updated date was more than 13 months ago

Consent must be reobtained from the user. You should call requestConsentInfoUpdateWithParameters:completionHandler: at the start of every app session. If the TC string is expired, the UMP SDK indicates that consent must be reobtained by setting UMPConsentInformation.consentStatus to UMPConsentStatus.required. If you haven't already, implement a request to load and present a new UMP form in your app.

[developers.google.com...]

[Milanex]

Hello @swannyoo7,

it's probably a bug. Be patient, the message will disappear in about 10 days.

greeting
Milanex

[CommandDork]

I've had this msg for a few months now, had it before to. Eventually it DOES go away on its own but it might take a bit of time.

[Swanny007]

Thanks, I'll wait and see. I have seen bugs in the past regarding the ads.txt implementation and it went away after some time.

[Senechal]

I've had this error for weeks. Nothing I do gets rid of it. I've posted to the Google's support forum and I get no response. I have reconfirmed user consent twice and I still get the error. Very frustrated.

[Breathofair33]

Also received this. Have cleared my board's cookies and disabled/enabled the consent on the specific site. Waiting to see.

[Senechal]

This is definitely a bug. I've tried everything. I've re-confirmed consent from all users. I've unpublished and republished. I've tried a 3rd party CMP (CookieYES) and nothing gets rid of the message.

Super annoying. There doesn't seem to be anything we can do on our ends to make it go away. What's concerning is that it says it affects the ability to serve ads to EU visitors... so it's negatively impacting revenues.

[Swanny007]

I am still seeing this warning many weeks later. I give up, it appears to be an issue on Google's end.

[Senechal]

I finally received a response from Google on AdSense support, and it was a cookie-cutter / cut-and-paste response that seemed to completely misunderstand the issue.

They instructed me to "publish a GDPR consent message". (Infuriating).

I don't think Google understands the issue and I don't think they care. They have a serious bug, and it's likely harming your revenue. Don't hold your breath for help.

[sam78]

I don't think there is any solution for this as I've been dealing with this for more than a year.
It goes after 8 days and comes back again and this repeats again.

But I'm not sure if this is causing any revenue loss. I've asked this to Adsense, the support team is living in another world, they have no idea what Adsense is and how it works.