What is Google Topics API?

The Google Topics API, part of the Privacy Sandbox initiative, provides a privacy-focused alternative to third-party cookies for interest-based advertising. Replacing the Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) standard, the Topics API shares general interest categories with advertisers instead of detailed personal data.

This API uses the browser to determine a user’s interests based on their browsing history, then groups them into categories or “topics”. When a user visits a site using the Topics API, the browser shares these topics with the site and its advertising partners.

The Topics API enables interest-based advertising without extensive user tracking, aiming to comply better with privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA.