Check that your system meets the technical requirements for using the consumer opt-out page. See: System Requirements for Using the consumer opt-out page
The consumer opt-out page allows you to choose whether or not you receive interest-based advertising from companies participating in the AdChoices program. You can:
When you visit the consumer opt-out page, you will see the following shaded dialogue box:
The page checks your browser settings and your computer to identify:
After the status check completes, you’ll see three main tabs, each of which you can click for further information.
There are two basic choices for opting-out; by individual companies or all companies through a single click.
Opting-Out of Individual Companies
Once the status check is complete you’ll see the “Companies Customizing Ads For Your Browser” tab, which shows the participating companies that have currently enabled interest-based ads for your browser. The tab on the left “All Participating Companies” – shows all the participating companies in the AdChoices program, worldwide, in alphabetical order. The tab on the right – “Existing Opt Outs” – shows which participating companies have already set an opt-out for your browser.
In any of the three tabs, you can click on a company’s name to learn more about its practices. To opt out of receiving interest-based advertising from one or more participating companies, simply check the box corresponding to the company’s name and click on the “Submit your choices” button. If a dash appears to the left of a company’s name, an opt-out from that company has already been set for your browser.
Opting-Out Of ALL Companies with a Single Click
If you prefer not to receive customized ads from ANY participating companies, you may click the “Choose all companies” button located at the bottom of the pane.
When you click on the “Submit your choices” or “Choose all companies” button, the shaded dialogue box below will appear at the bottom of the pane:
Once your opt out request(s) are submitted to the participating companies, the dialogue box will indicate whether all of your opt out requests completed successfully.
That’s it!
The consumer opt-out page makes it easy to find out about participating companies that provide online interest-based advertising, and to make choices about whether to receive these types of ads in your browser.
Users of the consumer opt-out page will sometimes receive messages indicating that status information for one or more participating companies is not available, or that one or more opt out requests were not completed. In either case, repeating the request may address the issue: you can refresh the consumer opt-out page to re-check for status, or repeat your opt out request(s) for some or all companies.
Status and opt out issues that involve a significant number of participating companies may indicate that your browser or its settings are affecting the opt out process.
If the status of one or more companies is listed as unavailable you will see the following shaded dialogue box:
You can click on “Learn More” for more information. You can also see the companies for which status information was not completed by reviewing the top of the company listing at the “All Participating Companies” tab. If any of your opt out requests is not completed, you will see a similar dialogue box:
You can also see which opt out requests were not completed, if any, under the “All Participating Companies” tab.
Users of the consumer opt-out tool may receive messages indicating that the status for one or more particular companies is not available, or that one or more opt out requests did not complete, as well as other warnings. See below for more information.
Users of the consumer opt-out page will sometimes receive messages indicating that the status for one or more particular companies is not available, or that one or more opt out requests did not complete.
When you receive an error message, you should first try the operation again – either reload the page for status, or re-submit your opt out choices. If you still have errors, see the information below about possible causes of errors.
If you have errors for multiple companies, the likely cause is that software or settings on your computer are interfering with the opt-out tool, or that your system does not meet the technical requirements for using the consumer opt-out page. See the explanations below:
Check that your system meets the technical requirements for using the consumer opt-out page. See: System Requirements for Using the consumer opt-out page
Firewalls, proxies, anti-virus programs, or web browser settings often are configured such that they interfere with the ability of participating companies to check a web browser’s status, or to set opt out cookies. Try to identify which software or setting is the problem, and then adjust it. Having third-party cookies blocked is the most common cause – see: Cookies and the consumer opt-out page.
Temporary network problems can sometimes interfere with the opt-out tool. Wait a while, and then try the tool again.
If you have only one, or a small number of errors, it is possible that the affected participating companies are experiencing a temporary technical issue. The consumer opt-out page automatically logs these errors. When the logs indicate a technical issue with one of the participating companies, the DAA/DAAC works with the affected company to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Even if you believe such an issue is the cause of the errors you have received, you should rule out the other possible causes, and try to opt out again in a few hours or a few days.
Further explanation of the warnings users may encounter when using the tool above:
Internet Explorer 6 is not supported for the consumer opt-out page. See: Web browsers supported by the consumer opt-out page.
JavaScript is required to use the consumer opt-out page. See: JavaScript and the consumer Opt-Out Page.
Both first and third-party cookies must be enabled for the consumer opt-out page. See: Cookies and the consumer opt-out page.
Users of the consumer opt-out page will sometimes receive messages indicating that the status for one or more particular companies is not available, or that one or more opt out requests did not complete. This may be caused by temporary problems or delays in reporting information from those companies, or may have resulted from software or settings on your computer that interfere with the companies’ attempts to check and report your status or to set opt out cookies in your browser. These companies are identified in the Participating Companies on this website.
