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Carbon Ads

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Carbon Ads is a contextual ad network by BuySellAds focused on developer and design audiences. It serves a single, lightweight ad per page without persistent third party tracking cookies by default.

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Overview

What does Carbon Ads do?

What is Carbon Ads

Carbon Ads is a contextual advertising network operated by BuySellAds (Canada and United States). It is positioned as a privacy friendly, developer and designer focused alternative to programmatic advertising. The product serves a single small ad unit per page, with contextual targeting based on the page URL and topic rather than on user profiling.

Cookies and data collected

By default, Carbon Ads does not set persistent third party cookies. The ad tag fires impression and click pings to carbonads.net, carrying URL, anonymised IP, user agent, and an in memory rotation counter. Some publisher configurations may add an analytics cookie; check your dashboard.

Legal basis under the GDPR

Because Carbon Ads is contextual and avoids persistent identifiers, legitimate interest under Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR is normally an acceptable basis for the impression measurement. The CNIL and EDPB both accept that strictly contextual advertising without cross site tracking can avoid the consent requirement of Art. 5(3) ePrivacy when no cookie is read or written.

International data transfers

Impression and click data may be transferred to BuySellAds infrastructure in Canada and the United States. Canada benefits from a partial EU adequacy decision; transfers to the US rely on SCCs and the EU, US Data Privacy Framework. The data exposure is low (URL, anonymised IP, user agent).

Practical compliance steps

Verify in your browser that Carbon Ads does not set persistent cookies on your domain. Sign the BuySellAds DPA, document the legitimate interest balancing test, and mention Carbon Ads in your privacy notice as a contextual advertising vendor. If you activate any analytics extras, treat them as consent based cookies.

Alternatives

Other privacy friendly ad networks include EthicalAds, CodeFund (open source), and direct sponsorships. They share the contextual, no tracking approach.

Compliance

Carbon Ads and the GDPR

Legal basis
Legitimate interest for contextual ad serving without persistent identifiers (GDPR Art. 6(1)(f)); consent if additional analytics cookies are activated
Risk level
low
Applicable regulations
GDPR, ePrivacy Directive

Impact assessment (DPIA)

A DPIA is generally not required because Carbon Ads is contextual and does not build user profiles. Document the legitimate interest balancing test.

Sample text for your banner

We use Carbon Ads to deliver contextual advertising on this site. Carbon Ads does not set persistent tracking cookies and therefore typically does not require your consent.
Cookies and trackers

What Carbon Ads sets and contacts

Tracking method
JavaScript ad tag with server side impression counting, no persistent third party cookies by default
Server location
United States (BuySellAds, CDN distribution)
Cookieless mode available
Yes
Data transferred outside the EU
Carbon Ads is operated by BuySellAds from Canada and the United States. Impression and click data may be processed in North America under Standard Contractual Clauses and the EU, US Data Privacy Framework where applicable.

Third-party domains contacted (4)

  • carbonads.net
  • srv.carbonads.net
  • cdn4.buysellads.net
  • buysellads.com
Questions

Frequently asked questions about Carbon Ads

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What cookies does Carbon Ads set?

By default, none. Carbon Ads uses contextual targeting and does not set persistent third party cookies. Verify in your browser network tab to confirm for your configuration.

Is consent required for Carbon Ads?

Generally no. Without persistent cookies, Art. 5(3) ePrivacy does not apply, and legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) covers contextual ad serving.

What is the legal basis for Carbon Ads?

Legitimate interest. Document the balancing test with the limited data exposure (URL, anonymised IP).

Does Carbon Ads transfer data outside the EU?

Yes, to Canada and the US. Use SCCs and the EU, US Data Privacy Framework. Canada has partial adequacy.

Do I need a DPIA for Carbon Ads?

Generally no. Contextual ad serving without profiling is below the Art. 35 GDPR threshold.

How do I implement Carbon Ads compliantly?

Sign DPA, document legitimate interest, mention Carbon Ads in your privacy notice, verify no persistent cookies are set.

Are there alternatives?

EthicalAds, CodeFund (open source), direct sponsorships. All contextual with minimal tracking.

How do I update my cookie policy for Carbon Ads?

Usually no cookie entry is needed. Add a brief note in your privacy notice describing the contextual ad serving and the Canada/US transfer.

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