Informed Consent

The document argues that advertising effectiveness and trust depend on respecting users through a clear 'value exchange' regarding privacy and content. It outlines three essential action areas: adopting data transparency and minimisation practices (referencing GDPR and ICO standards), improving user experience by prioritising quality of reach over quantitative metrics and avoiding intrusive ad formats, and managing emerging technologies like AI through ethical evaluations and bias monitoring.

• Consumer trust in advertising is undermined by data misuse and a lack of transparency regarding AI and privacy policies. Specifically, 60% of consumers believe their personal data is routinely misused by companies, while 85% consider a company's data privacy policy important and 72% value AI policies before making a purchase.
• To ensure data respect and transparency, the guide recommends using the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as the legal baseline and employing data minimisation. This includes auditing data needs, collecting only for legitimate business reasons, and removing unnecessary data.
• Improving user experience requires a shift from quantitative reach to quality of reach and the use of non-intrusive ad formats. The guide suggests alternatives to behavioural advertising, such as contextual or interest-based advertising, and recommends compliance with the Coalition for Better Ads and the Interactive Advertising Bureau Lean Standard.
• The adoption of emerging technologies, particularly AI, requires ethical evaluations to prevent unintended consequences and discrimination. The guide explicitly states that certain AI technologies, such as those using facial recognition or stored biometric data, are inappropriate for advertising.

APA

Conscious Advertising Network (2025). Informed Consent. https://www.consciousadnetwork.com/informed-consent-guide/

Chicago

Conscious Advertising Network. Informed Consent. 2025. https://www.consciousadnetwork.com/informed-consent-guide/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Conscious Advertising Network |title=Informed Consent |date=26 March 2025 |url=https://www.consciousadnetwork.com/informed-consent-guide/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{consciousadvertisingnetwork2025informed, author = {{Conscious Advertising Network}}, title = {{Informed Consent}}, institution = {Conscious Advertising Network}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://www.consciousadnetwork.com/informed-consent-guide/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }