IAB Europe wins TCF appeal in Belgian Court
09/01/2026 | IAB Europe
The Belgian Market Court has ruled in favour of IAB Europe, annulling a decision by the Belgian data protection authority (DPA) concerning the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF). The court found the DPA's validation of a mandatory action plan was legally flawed because it was based on an overly broad definition of IAB Europe’s role as a joint controller. This follows a prior judgment that narrowed the organisation's legal responsibility for subsequent data processing.
The court further determined that the APD violated IAB Europe’s right to be heard by failing to allow the group to state its position. The regulator must now issue a new decision reflecting IAB Europe’s more limited controllership. Meanwhile, claims by complainants seeking greater involvement in the procedure were rejected.
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