Dear bloggers, Google recently launched an interest-based type of advertising that allows advertisers to show ads based on visitors’ interactions in the past. If you have Google AdSense ads in your blog, then you need to update your privacy policy to include this new information. If you’ve never had any privacy policy whatsoever on your blog, then you should as it’s a requirement from Google!
For more information about this new interest-based type of advertising, please visit the official Google AdSense Blog.
You are supposed to update your Privacy Policy page by 8th April 2009 or else…. (well Google didn’t say a thing but unless if you want to upset the Big G, then I’d suggest you to do it). Refer to the guidelines on Google Advertising Cookie and Privacy Policies to find out what information that you need to include in your Privacy Policy.
Private policy updated
Or feel free to use my Privacy Policy if you are feeling lazy and just change my blog to yours. I was using an automated policy script some months ago to create that page. I’ve already updated the policy with Google’s recommendation. However, I don’t want to be hold responsible if my policy is incomplete. Use it at your own risk!
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m finding it! thank god ^^. Mike, can you show your Privacy Policy, i need your help
Thanks!
hey Van, haven’t seen you in a while
Oops. I meant to put the link to my Privacy Policy when I published the page. Sorry about that! Fixed.
Yes, this has been done by me already. Anyways, thanks for informing
What I haven’t figured out yet is that with AdSense, in your account settings, you have the option to disable the interest-based ads.
Google FAQ’s say “I’ve opted out of ads based on user interest categories. Do I still need to change my privacy policy?
Yes, you’ll still need to update your privacy policy. Even if you choose to opt out of displaying ads based on interest categories, your site(s) will continue to show ads based on user interactions with an advertiser, such as visits to advertiser sites. As a result, your privacy policy still needs to reflect interest-based advertising.”
I find this very confusing… can someone explain to make a little clearer?
O_o it’s like going around in circles. I’m not too sure what it means myself.. I’ll put it in anyway on the privacy policy
All sites will show ads to users based on the users interest categories….and any user(and that includes the site owner too
) can also opt out of this.
Thats what I can make out of it.
Yeah, I updated mine.
Google was kind enough to send me and email about it.
Regards,
Deimos Tel`Arin (DTA) @ ahkong.net
Hey Michael, I also receive this email from them and I don’t take this one seriously. I don’t have any existing privacy policy in my blog (since I am new and it is a free blogspot).
Michael, You think I must make one now?or else they will ban or kick my butt if they can’t find any of this policy in my blog?
Well it’s better to have one since Google enforces it (they are not saying that it’s optional, but a compulsory). You’ll never know what Google can do to your site! It doesn’t hurt to have it anyway
Wow, I’ve had a privacy policy but I wasn’t aware of the changes in Googles ads. Thanks for the information! I’m going to make sure to update it using yours as an example
Thanks Michael. I have updated the privacy policy appropriately.
Thanks. I read that mail. but, didn’t make a thing. Thanks. I will use your privacy policy.
Feeling lazy
What a nice guy you are, Micahel! ha.. Many would appreciate your kindness. ^^ Then we all know where to look for.
Interesting Post. What I, more and more, often do is checking if the visitor is coming from a search engine or ref. site. In those cases I change the content to be more welcoming and present a message or some special modules to get the visitor more interested in going further into the site.
Well you can use a WordPress plug-in called WP Greet Box to identify the visitors smartly. I’m planning to write a bit of post about this soon
Google adsense has actually created quite a bit of trouble for alot of users. They got banned for nothing and I heard they are getting sued? Sometimes too many policy kills..
! nearly forgot. I was just reading this and I went to my adsense tos and accept again.. thanks for the reminding me:0
I knew I received that e-mail sometime ago, never paid attention to though… well, because it was Greek to me
now that I read that “or else…” clause in your post… me thinks, have I deleted that e-mail already?
good you shared privacy policy… but it doesn’t change a thing, I still don’t understand that
Well, you can always copy paste and change the site to your URL even if you don’t understand it ^^
and that is exactly what I will do
Roy´s last blog post..Is Pacquiao destined for un-greatness?
Yeah, I will update soon.
Electronic Gadgets´s last blog post..Microsoft Releasing Internet Explorer 8
I have never used adsense.
I hear some good things about it and it can generate a substantial income if done properly.
Good post.
It’s probably the first (and main) advertising scheme you use to monetize your blog/site
If you check my blog’s income statistics every month, most $$ are from Google AdSense
Hi Michael
Where to include this privacy policy. Do I have to make a seperate page on my website of PrivacyPolicy like taht of urs or do I have to make any changes in mine Adsense Account. Pls do mail me. I am new to all this.
Well you have to include it somewhere on your website. It’s better if you make an own page since the paragraphs are quite long