This kind of "but technically" is not going to go well for them if that's what they try. Technically the CMPs don't collect the data either, the ads do and the website controls how the CMP relates to ad loading.

The TCF is a spec, the industry agreed on this spec, built implementations and used it as justification of tracking. I think it's fair to call data collected by ads loaded under the idea that a valid implementation of the spec was proof of GDPR consent as "data collected through the TCF".

Anyway, this is the press release, not the ruling. See C.2 of the ruling if you want to nitpick the way this is actually being ordered.

https://www.gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit.be/publications/b...

> but technically

well, the difference is quite important.