Google AdSense Terms and Conditions Changes

February 26, 2008

[Noel]

Is it juts me?

Just now when I logged in I got a new "Google AdSenseTM Online Standard Terms and Conditions" page from AdSense

[potentialgeek]

It doesn't sound as if urgent action is required. Google says it's for future technology.

If Google is the one using cookies, it should provide the privacy notice to post on our sites.

I'll wait until Adsense Advisor gives us privacy notice text to copy and paste.

p/g

[europeforvisitors]

Yes, it's too early to panic. Just read the agreement, click "I agree," and go back to business as usual.

[Freedom]

Does this apply to Google Analytics or Quantcast?

That's all I need to know.

[creeking]

does this mean google ads can have web bugs in them? .... which work without any clicking?

[sven1977]

Web bugs don't have to be clicked. They automatically result in a simple HTTP request to a third party site (e.g. google or the advertiser). Every HTTP request contains - by definition - certain information about the computer the request is coming from (IP, browser type, etc..).

Your web server gets and logs this information as well as soon as someone visits your site (through a HTTP request). Via the web bug, a third party site can obtain the same information about your visitors.

[Skeptic]

Uh-oh, I just got the notice.

I put it off for another day...

[walrus]

...it's too early to panic

Great advice !
Hitchhikers Guide To The galaxy was on TV last night so 'don't panic' is fresh in my mind.
I went ahead and panicked anyways. Already have the cookies notice on most of the main pages.

[leadegroot]

The terms don't have to be agreed to until late May.
So panicking is unnecessary - we all have plenty of time to make any changes needed.

(I'm getting the notice again, btw)

[willybfriendly]

So, does this mean that adsense is placing a cookie at the time of the page load, or at the time of the click on an ad? Big difference.

I don't see anything in the TOS that say we are giving G the right to serve cookies or web beacons FROM our website, which makes the requirement for disclosing "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," a bit confusing.

Our privacy policy states, "This site contains links to other sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such web sites."

And,

"Public areas of this site do not currently use cookies. Private areas of this site may use non-persistent cookies to track the user and maintain the session. All cookies will be destroyed at the end of the session."

This does not strike me as a good move on G's part. They may do no evil, but they are forcing site owners to cut a deal with the devil - or opt out entirely.

[hal55]

Kindly request to the Adsense advisor to tell us what exactly should we put on our privacy policy, please.

[Skeptic]

Are we allowed to mention "Jensense" on here?

She posted an analysis on her blog.

[rebelde]

The last time I was asked to edit my privacy policy was when I used Doubleclick... I bet it was the "Doubleclick division's" lawyers who insisted on this.

[annej]

We don't have to wait until after SMX, JenSense already has her take on the new terms and conditions up.

She seems to have the impression that all AdSense uses will have to have a privacy policy not just those using the new type ads.

I too wonder why they don't do this like Amazon does. Since I don't use cookies or such on my site it doesn't make sense that I should have to write a privacy policy for Google. Lord will this be a big job and just confuse visitors.

[tallguy]

Will the privacy policy page have to be linked on every page on the site ?

[billegal]

ASA: Can you clear this up? I'd really like to be able to link to Google's privacy policy for Google's ads.

Also, the liability here should be pass through. If Google's ads do something to my visitors, then Google should identify what that is and accept liability for improper notice or activity. Expecting your Adsense publishers to get this right for you is burdensome because we do not fully know or control what you do with the data collected.