Discussions

Google Makes an Extreme Change To Adsense TOS - Did anybody notice?

Posted by chriswhiteley • 3/13/08 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: adsense, blog, blogger, google, of, policy, Privacy, service, terms, tos

It took me by surprise, but Google now requires every site that you have Adsense on to include a Privacy Policy explaining about cookies and other such matters.

I thought that I would have to write an entire privacy policy, which I have no idea how to do. I did however find a unique solution- A cut and paste privacy policy you can add to your blog to cover this new TOS change.

You can head to my blog to get a copy of the privacy policy to put on your blog or check this post [livingonadsense.com/google-will-slap-your-adsense-cheque-right-in-the-garba...]
to learn more about the TOS and

User Comments

3/13/08

voodooKobra

This is an example of ad programs dictating what you do with your website.

[reply]
3/14/08

friedclyde

Im sorry chris, but wat google was saying, is that you as a publisher accept that google has the right as the advertiser to place cookies on your visitors computer.

this is a very well know scenario in online marketing where visitors are tracked via cookies

all you had to do is click on i accept which you did obviously.....dont understand wats the big deal

[reply]
1. 3/14/08
  
  chriswhiteley
  
  friedclyde,
  
  "but wat google was saying, is that you as a publisher accept that google has the right as the advertiser to place cookies on your visitors computer."
  
  That is incorrect: check out this link to the Official Google Adsense Blog adsense.blogspot.com/2008/02/updated-terms-and-conditions.html
  
  The big deal is that according to the TOS I clicked and I "agree with" Google stated that Adsense publishers must now include privacy policy informing visitors about the cookies, and that most of us do not have such a privacy policy. It's just a pain to have to have to write one which is why I added the link in my original discussion post
2. 3/14/08
  
  friedclyde
  
  You must have and abide by an appropriate privacy policy that clearly discloses that third parties may be placing and reading cookies on your users’ browser, or using web beacons to collect information, in the course of ads being served on your website.
  
  Your privacy policy should also include information about user options for cookie management.
  
  ------------------ From the Adsense Terms and Conditions ----------
3/14/08

PetLvr

Thanks for this! I remember reading this, and like most TOS (and other README.txt'es) .. I just scrolled down the rest of the page and ticked the box or clicked "accept" and closed the window.

I've got many sites, so I'm trying to create a universal one and I'll just link to it in my sidebars. Hope that will be sufficient.

[reply]
4/24/08

guniwan

thanks for the info

[reply]