How to Identify Regions Requiring Opt-In Consent Models

Edited

Identifying which countries and regions require an opt-in consent model is an important step when configuring regional consent behavior.

This determination is not always straightforward. Consent requirements vary based on local law, regulatory guidance, enforcement posture, and evolving case law.

As a result, Captain Compliance cannot authoritatively declare which countries require opt-in consent.

Each organization should conduct its own legal and compliance review to determine the appropriate model for the regions in which it operates.

That said, Captain Compliance will provide informative references. The table in this article reflects a commonly used reference list of countries that are frequently treated as requiring opt-in consent for non-essential technologies. This table is provided for planning and configuration purposes only and should be validated by your legal team before use.

How to Research Opt-In Requirements

When evaluating whether a country requires opt-in consent, organizations typically consider:

  • Whether the country is subject to GDPR or GDPR-like frameworks

  • Local ePrivacy or electronic communications laws

  • Guidance from data protection authorities

  • Enforcement history and regulator expectations

  • How “consent” is defined for non-essential technologies

Regions Commonly Treated as Requiring Opt-In Consent

Europe

Region

Country Code

Austria

AT

Belgium

BE

Bulgaria

BG

Croatia

HR

Cyprus

CY

Czech Republic

CZ

Denmark

DK

Estonia

EE

Finland

FI

France

FR

Germany

DE

Greece

GR

Hungary

HU

Iceland

IS

Ireland

IE

Italy

IT

Latvia

LV

Liechtenstein

LI

Lithuania

LT

Luxembourg

LU

Malta

MT

Netherlands

NL

Norway

NO

Poland

PL

Portugal

PT

Romania

RO

Slovakia

SK

Slovenia

SI

Spain

ES

Sweden

SE

United Kingdom

GB / UK

North America

Region

Country Code

Quebec

CA-QC

South America

Region

Country Code

Brazil

BR

Asia-Pacific

Region

Country Code

South Korea

KR

Thailand

TH

China

CN

Middle East & Africa

Region

Country Code

Israel

IL

South Africa

ZA