Question type

Consent checkbox

A consent checkbox is a form element where the respondent actively confirms they agree to a specific use of their data, usually with a link to the privacy policy. Under rules such as the GDPR, valid consent has to be a clear affirmative action, so the box must start unticked.

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Consent checkbox wording examples

I agree that my answers will be processed to prepare the survey report, as described in the privacy policy.
I agree to be contacted by email about my application.
I would like to receive the monthly newsletter. (optional)
I confirm I am over 16 and agree to the processing of my data for this registration.

Each text names one purpose. “I agree to everything” with a link to a long document is the wording regulators and users trust least.

Good practice for consent checkboxes

Unticked by default. A pre-ticked box is not consent.
One purpose per checkbox. Keep marketing separate from what the form needs to work.
A visible link to the privacy policy right in the text.
Plain words: what data, for what, for how long, who to contact to withdraw.
Only make it required when the form cannot work without it.

This is general UX practice, not legal advice. Requirements differ between jurisdictions and purposes, so have the final wording checked by your lawyer or data protection officer.

When a survey needs a consent checkbox

You need one whenever the form collects something that identifies a person: a name, email, phone number, or a combination of answers that points to one individual. Anonymous product feedback without contact fields often relies on a different legal basis, but a short note on how answers are used still builds trust.

Mistakes that make consent worthless

Bundling consent into the terms of service acceptance.
Making newsletter sign-up a condition for submitting a support request.
A link text of “here” that says nothing about where it leads.
No record of what text the person agreed to.

Where to place the checkbox

Put it next to the moment of submission, after the fields it refers to, so the person knows what they are agreeing to share. In a long survey that collects contacts only at the end, place the consent right after the contact fields, not on the welcome screen where nobody has typed anything yet. On a phone, make sure the full text is readable without zooming: a consent the person cannot read is weak consent.

Building it in Askyo

The Consent block is a text plus one “I agree” toggle with a checkbox that starts empty. It is required by default and starts with the text “I consent to my answers being processed as part of this survey”, which you should replace with your own wording. The text supports formatting and links: write a link as [privacy policy](https://your-site/privacy).

For a separate optional marketing consent, add a second Consent block and switch off “required”. Analytics shows how many respondents gave consent, and the CSV export has a column for it.

What you can set

the block text
link to the document
link wording

Templates that already use it

«Consent to processing the request» Feedback form Feedback
«Consent to personal data processing» Client questionnaire Leads and contacts
«Consent to data processing» Service booking Leads and contacts
«Consent to personal data processing» B2B lead form Leads and contacts
«Consent to processing the request» Contact form Leads and contacts
«Agreement to the booking terms» Rental / booking for a period Leads and contacts
«Consent to personal data processing» Candidate questionnaire HR and team
«Consent to take part» eNPS: employee loyalty HR and team
«Consent to personal data processing» First-grade parent questionnaire Education
«Consent to personal data processing» Settling into kindergarten Education
«Consent to personal data processing» Staff assessment test with scoring Education
«Consent to personal data processing» Event registration Events
«Consent to data processing» Sign-up for an 18+ event Events
«Consent to answer processing» UX interface research Research
«Consent to anonymous participation» Health questionnaire Research
«Consent to take part» In-depth market research Research
«Consent to personal data processing» Lead-gen quiz for a landing page Quizzes
«Consent to personal data processing» Training test Quizzes
«Consent to personal data processing» Residents’ vote Voting
«Consent to emails» ✨ ASTRA · early access Showcase

Frequently asked questions

Consent checkbox: common questions

Should a consent checkbox be pre-ticked?

No. Under the GDPR and similar laws, consent must be an active choice, and a pre-ticked box does not count. The Askyo Consent block always starts empty; the respondent has to tick it themselves.

What should a consent checkbox say?

Name the purpose, the data and where to read more, in one sentence: “I agree that my email will be used to send the event reminder, as described in the privacy policy.” Use a separate checkbox for each separate purpose, such as marketing.

Does a consent checkbox make my form legally compliant?

Not on its own. Compliance also depends on your privacy policy, how you store and delete data, and the legal basis for each purpose. The checkbox records the person’s agreement; have a lawyer review the wording and the process around it.

Can I have two consent checkboxes in one form?

Yes, and it is the recommended setup when you have two purposes. Add one required Consent block for what the form needs to work and a second, optional one for newsletters or marketing. Each is reported separately in analytics.

Neighbouring types

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Add a clear, unticked consent line to your form and link it to your own privacy policy.

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