When the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in 2018, it reshaped global digital governance. Unlike lighter frameworks, GDPR is been used by Google.
The digital economy thrives on data. Every click, search, or purchase feeds into algorithms that shape the internet experience. But as users become increasingly aware of how their personal information is handled, privacy laws have emerged worldwide to safeguard digital rights. Google’s decision to enforce Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) exclusively for European traffic under GDPR has raised an important question: Why Europe first, and what about other regions like California under CCPA, Brazil under LGPD, or India under DPDP?
This article explores why Google’s strategy makes sense, what it means for user protection, and why India — particularly its technology hub, Electronic City in Bangalore — must prepare for the next wave of privacy compliance.
Why Europe Leads: GDPR and Its Global Ripple
When the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force in 2018, it reshaped global digital governance. Unlike lighter frameworks, GDPR requires:
Explicit consent before collecting or processing personal data.
Transparency in how data is stored, shared, or monetized.
Strict penalties of up to 4% of global annual revenue for non-compliance.
For Google, ignoring GDPR is not an option. The European Union has demonstrated it will levy billion-dollar fines against tech giants for breaches. Enforcing CMPs in Europe ensures Google can continue serving personalized ads legally while shielding itself and its publishers from regulatory risks.
Why Not CCPA, LGPD, or DPDP Yet?
1. California’s CCPA
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) offers users the right to know what data is collected and the right to opt-out of data sales. However, unlike GDPR, it does not demand opt-in consent before tracking begins. Businesses may continue data collection until a user objects. This “opt-out” design makes it less urgent for Google to mandate CMPs in California.
2. Brazil’s LGPD
Brazil’s Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD) resembles GDPR, but its enforcement has been relatively softer. While it requires consent, regulators have not exercised the same aggressive penalties as European authorities. As a result, Google currently leaves compliance to publishers rather than enforcing CMPs platform-wide.
3. India’s DPDP Act 2023
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP 2023) is the country’s first comprehensive privacy law. It borrows principles from GDPR but is still in the early stages of enforcement. India, often cautious but strong in legal adaptation, tends to watch global practices before building its own rigorous framework. As Electronic City, Bangalore — India’s Silicon Valley — continues to host thousands of IT and digital firms, the country is well-positioned to scale its privacy law enforcement when needed.
Google’s Strategy: Protecting Users While Future-Proofing Ads
By enforcing CMPs in Europe first, Google ensures compliance where the legal risk is greatest. This move achieves two goals:
User Protection at Scale
Millions of European users now actively choose how their personal histories — browsing data, ad interactions, or preferences — are handled. This empowers individuals and reduces “invisible surveillance.”A Compliance Template for the World
Google’s CMP system is built on the IAB’s Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF v2.2). This global standard can easily extend to other jurisdictions. Once India, Brazil, or US states demand stronger protections, Google can expand enforcement without rebuilding infrastructure.The Indian Perspective: Law Following Strength
India has historically aligned with global standards after careful observation. For example:
Competition law matured after studying EU and US antitrust models.
Environmental law strengthened following global conventions.
Now, data privacy law is poised to follow GDPR’s footsteps.
Electronic City’s bold technology ecosystem demonstrates India’s capacity to innovate and adapt. As startups and global IT majors build products there, data protection compliance will become a natural requirement for competitiveness. If Google extends CMP enforcement to India, it would not be a shock but a natural evolution.
A Call for Harmonization
Today, websites may serve visitors from Europe, the US, India, and Brazil all at once. If every country enforces privacy laws differently, compliance becomes chaotic. A harmonized approach — where GDPR principles form a global baseline and local laws build on them — could create consistency and fairness.
Google’s method shows the way:
Start with strictest law (GDPR).
Build tools (CMPs) that can adapt.
Expand coverage region by region.
If India aligns its DPDP more closely with GDPR and demands CMP-like enforcement, users will benefit from the same protections already available to Europeans.
Conclusion
Google’s CMP enforcement in Europe is not favoritism — it is necessity. The EU’s GDPR is the strongest, most strictly enforced privacy law today. But this strategy also builds a blueprint for global compliance.
For India, the lesson is clear. As the world’s largest digital democracy and a hub of IT innovation in Bangalore’s Electronic City, the country must prepare to strengthen its privacy enforcement. Aligning with GDPR-like protections will safeguard not only Indian internet users but also global trust in Indian digital enterprises.
Ultimately, protecting personal histories online is a shared responsibility. Google has taken the first step in Europe. Now it is time for India, Brazil, the US, and others to build on that momentum — ensuring the internet remains a space of trust, transparency, and fairness.
