DPDPA is now in force in India. Run a free privacy scan on your site. Scan now

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ North America

Cookie consent in United States

Consent and privacy law in United States

In short
The United States has no single federal privacy law. Instead it has a state-by-state patchwork led by California's CCPA as amended by the CPRA, joined by Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Montana, Florida, and others. Most of these laws follow an opt-out model rather than the EU opt-in approach, so businesses must offer a Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information link and honour Global Privacy Control signals. Sensitive data and minors often require stricter handling or opt-in. The FTC enforces against unfair and deceptive practices nationally, while state attorneys general enforce their own laws. There is no general cookie consent requirement, but tracking can trigger sale or sharing rules.
Status

No federal privacy law, a growing patchwork of state laws led by California's CCPA

Primary law
CCPA / CPRA
Languages

en

Who must comply

For-profit businesses that meet revenue or data-volume thresholds and handle California residents' data.

Penalties

Varies by state, for example up to 7,500 US dollars per intentional CCPA violation

Key obligations

  • Honor Do Not Sell or Share requests
  • Recognize Global Privacy Control signals
  • Provide a clear opt-out mechanism
  • Handle consumer rights requests
  • Limit use of sensitive personal information

Local guidance

  • Treat the US as a state-by-state patchwork rather than one regime
  • Offer a Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information link
  • Honour Global Privacy Control browser signals
  • Apply stricter handling for sensitive data and minors

How ConsentX helps

  • Native Global Privacy Control support
  • Do Not Sell or Share controls
  • Opt-out preference signals
  • 45-day DSAR SLA workflow
Get started free
yoursite.com
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States

We value your privacy

We ask for your consent before any non-essential cookie, with the rules that apply in your region.

Allow allReject non-essentialManage preferences

This page is a plain-English summary for general information and is not legal advice. Confirm your obligations with qualified local counsel.

How to comply with United States using ConsentX

  1. 1

    Scan your website

    Run a free scan to find every cookie and tracker on your site, so you know exactly what needs consent under United States.

  2. 2

    Show a geo-aware consent banner

    Add the ConsentX banner. It detects each visitor region and shows the consent experience that United States requires, automatically.

  3. 3

    Block trackers until consent

    Keep non-essential cookies and trackers blocked until the visitor agrees, so nothing fires before consent.

  4. 4

    Record tamper-evident proof

    Every choice is stored as a tamper-evident consent receipt you can produce in a United States audit.

  5. 5

    Handle data requests on time

    Use the built-in DSAR workflow with SLA timers to answer access, deletion and opt-out requests within the legal deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a federal privacy law in the United States?+

No. The United States has no comprehensive federal privacy law. It has a growing patchwork of state laws led by California's CCPA, plus FTC enforcement against unfair or deceptive practices.

Do US privacy laws require opt-in or opt-out?+

Most US state laws follow an opt-out model. Businesses must offer a way to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information and honour Global Privacy Control signals, while sensitive data and minors may require stricter handling.

Are cookie banners required in the United States?+

There is no general cookie consent requirement, but using trackers can trigger sale or sharing rules under state laws, which require a clear opt-out mechanism such as a Do Not Sell or Share link.