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Step 1: Create Consent Artifacts

The first step in consent management is to define the artifacts for which consent must be collected.

Artifacts represent the documents or agreements that require user approval. Examples include:

• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Cookie Policy
• Data Processing Agreement

Each artifact can have multiple versions, because policies may change over time. When a new version is published, the organization may need to collect consent again.

Purpose of This Step

Creating artifacts allows the system to clearly identify which document the user is consenting to and which version was accepted. This ensures traceability and compliance during audits.

Example Structure

By maintaining version history, organizations can prove exactly which version of a policy was accepted by a user at a specific time.

Step 2: Capture User Consent

Once artifacts are defined, the next step is collecting consent from users.

Consent can be captured through:

• Website forms
• Application pop-ups
• Policy acceptance screens
• Mobile applications

Whenever a user interacts with a policy or agreement, the system records their decision.

Possible consent statuses include:

• Given – User accepted the document
• Revoked – User withdrew previously granted consent
• Declined – User refused consent

Purpose of This Step

This step ensures that user permission is explicitly recorded, which is a key requirement under privacy regulations such as data protection laws and compliance frameworks.

Each consent record contains information such as:

• User identifier
• Document reference
• Document version
• Timestamp of action
• Consent decision

This information creates a reliable compliance record.

Step 3: Record Consent Events Using API

In many systems, consent is captured through external applications or websites. Kawach allows these applications to send consent information securely using the Consent API.

Whenever a user interacts with a policy, the application sends a request to the system to record that event.

Required Information

The API request includes several fields that describe the consent event.

Purpose of This Step

The API integration allows organizations to automatically record consent events from their applications, ensuring that consent is consistently logged without manual intervention.

This also enables centralized tracking of consent from multiple platforms.

Step 4: Maintain an Event-Based Consent History

Kawach follows an event-based consent model. Instead of modifying existing records, the system creates a new event every time a user's consent status changes.

For example:

Purpose of This Step

Maintaining event history ensures:

• Full transparency of user decisions
• Clear compliance audit trail
• Historical tracking of policy acceptance

This is especially important for regulatory audits and dispute resolution.

Step 5: Store and Manage Consent Records

All consent records are stored in the Consent Directory, where administrators can view and manage consent activity.

The directory displays information such as:

• User identifier
• Email or account reference
• Artifact reference
• Version
• Timestamp
• Consent Status

Administrators can review records to understand when consent was granted, updated, or revoked.

Purpose of This Step

Centralized storage ensures that organizations can quickly retrieve consent information when required for compliance verification or regulatory reporting.

Step 6: Retrieve Consent Records

Organizations often need to retrieve consent data for reporting, verification, or auditing.

Kawach allows systems to retrieve:

• All consent records
• Specific consent events

This retrieval capability allows organizations to integrate consent verification into their internal workflows.

Purpose of This Step

This step ensures that consent data can be easily accessed for:

• Compliance audits
• Internal investigations
• Regulatory reporting
• Customer data requests

Step 7: Secure API Authentication

To ensure that only authorized systems can record consent events, Kawach uses secure authentication credentials.

Applications must include authentication headers in every API request.

These credentials verify the identity of the calling system and prevent unauthorized access.

Purpose of This Step

Authentication ensures:

• Secure API communication
• Protection against unauthorized data submission
• Controlled integration with trusted systems

Integration Flow Summary

The complete consent management workflow in Kawach follows a structured process:

1. Create Consent Artifacts

   Define documents such as policies or terms that require user approval.

2. Publish Artifact Versions

   Maintain version history to track policy updates.

3. Capture User Decisions

   Collect consent through application interfaces.

4. Record Consent via API

   Send consent events to the system for secure storage.

5. Maintain Event History

   Store every change as a separate event for transparency.

6. Store Consent Records

   Maintain centralized logs in the Consent Directory.

7. Retrieve Records When Needed

   Access consent data for audits, reporting, or verification.

Conclusion

Consent management is a critical requirement for modern organizations handling personal data. Kawach provides a structured system to define consent artifacts, capture user decisions, and maintain a reliable consent history.

By following an event-based model and secure API integration, organizations can ensure that every consent action is recorded accurately. This approach helps maintain transparency, simplifies compliance audits, and strengthens trust between organizations and users.

When implemented correctly, the consent management workflow allows organizations to demonstrate accountability and maintain regulatory compliance while managing user permissions effectively.