The Smart Data Protector vs. Auto-blocking – Usercentrics Support - EN

Never use the Smart Data Protector and the auto-blocking feature together!

If you use two technologies that essentially both want to do the same thing, they will interfere with one another.

The Smart Data Protector and the auto-blocking feature are similar technologies, which both serve to prevent Data Processing Services (DPS) from loading without prior consent. However, they use different methods to achieve this goal.

Smart Data Protector

The Smart Data Protector relies on the DPS being added to a repository of known DPS, and the services having been added to the Admin Interface. If a DPS is known and added in the Admin, it can be identified and modified to ensure it won't load prior consent.

A consideration when using the Smart Data Protector is the fact that DPS need to be added and kept up-to-date in a repository. If a DPS decides to change something, the repository must be updated to ensure the service can be blocked prior consent.

Important

Services that aren't added to the repository won't be blocked!

The Smart Data Protector can however automatically generate a placeholder for services that have a visual representation on the website, such as Google Maps or YouTube.

An example of a placeholder generated by the Smart Data Protector

Auto-blocking

When a domain is scanned, to discover which DPS are present on the website an instructions file is generated for the auto blocking feature. Combined with the auto-population feature, auto-blocking makes it very easy to ensure DPS aren't enabled without a visitor's consent.

Auto-blocking fully relies on a successful scan having been performed at least once, and preferably periodically or at least after any major changes or additions to the website.
A consideration with the auto-blocking feature is that it relies on domain scanning to function effectively. If a domain hasn't been scanned, the feature won't have the necessary instructions to block services before consent is given and will not be effective.
However, this also means that any changes to a service won't affect the auto-blocking feature's ability to block services prior consent, and unlike with the Smart Data Protector, any service can be blocked by the auto-blocking feature.