leadegroot, I selected "Remind me next time I log in" or similar, and I also have not seen the agreement again.

It would be nice to tag on something like "See google.com/privacy for more information" since this is their requirement.

Exactly, but where is Google's Adwords privacy policy?
There's nothing on the Google Privacy Central about Adwords privacy.
Also, I use Google Analytics and they have no privacy policy for that either, at least as far as I can see.

...this does seem to have been poorly done.

Certainly not specifically why Google stock is tanking this morning but this can't be helping it.

The TOS that is currently displaying for me is also dated November 3, 2005, we may be witnessing a major "ooops!" for this company. If the cookies in question that we must disclose are in fact those placed by AdSense shouldn't we be given at least as much info about them up front as we are required to disclose? This seems to be a TOS chasing its own tail like a deranged pooch.

interestingly, I'm no longer being prompted to agree to the terms when I log in. Anyone else?

I haven't seen any prompt to agree to new T&C. I am based in Europe so could it be something affecting only USA publishers?

[edited by: Jean at 3:10 pm (utc) on Feb. 26, 2008]

No, I'm in Europe and got it.

I looked over the TOS briefly, read the gibberish on the AS blog, clicked "I agree" and continued my log in. Put a bit about third parties using cookies on my privacy statement and really could care less.

Should we also write somewhere that the NSA is likely to be following your every movement on the internet and reading your emails? Is it our responsibility to inform users of every possible legal or quasi-legal infraction third parties like Google or the government engage in?

NO. NO. NO.... but I still like getting paid every month.

I really think - especially after watching the biggest joke of the week last week, the ebay "boycott" - that people need to devote more time to runing their businesses and less time worrying about "compliance with the big dogs."

As I do with every authority figure, I act as though I am complying and then do whatever I deem appropriate. Usually, I end up not breaking any rules, only bending them a bit.

Yup, I got it too...I denied it and said screw that...just kidding.

It would have been nice if Google had included an example paragraph for a privacy policy it deems appropriate, rather than simply adding the instruction that one is required. As it stands, this involved a relatively modest modification to my privacy policy.

Still, this seems to be primarily a means to allow advertisers and ad networks to avoid having to directly disclose their actions to the end-user. I doubt that many people reading my privacy policy are going to figure out, "This means I'm still being tracked when I go to other sites" or "somebody may be trying to track every site and webpage I visit."

I suspect this also has something to do with Google's anticipated acquisition of DoubleClick, and the terms of the privacy lawsuit settlement into which DoubleClick entered with several states back in 2002.

Well I"m confused now.. Gooogle told me that I have put something on my site but I have no clue what I'm supposed to put there. Where is ASA?

Google ought to fire all but one of it's lawyers and hire some people who can kill the MFA garbage once and for all (or maybe someone who could write a coherent paragraph explaining what their legalese nonsense meant. )

Too many lawyers, not enough chum. AAArrrgghhh.

I just relogged into Adsense and did not get prompted to agree to anything new. I'm located in the US.

has anyone actualy clicked I dont agree? LOL!

Fact is google are setting up web beacons on your sites serving ads, and other sites serving ads..

the conspiracy is they'll web beacon everything and know your visitor :)

Quote from [allaboutcookies.org...]

What are Web Beacons, otherwise known as Web Bugs, and how do the work?

A web beacon is a transparent image file used to monitor your journey around a single website or collection of sites. They are also referred to as web bugs and are commonly used by sites that hire third-party services to monitor traffic. They may be used in association with cookies to understand how visitors interact with the pages and content on the pages of a web site.

For example a company owning a network of sites may use web beacons to count and recognise users travelling around its network. Being able to recognise you enables the site owner to personalise your visit and make it more user friendly.

The part "Being able to recognise you enables the site owner to personalise your visit and make it more user friendly." gives me no doubt in question google will web beacon us all . :)

Didn't see it in mine either.

Maybe because I have warned my visitors from years ago about cookies.

Ann

Has anyone selected "Remind me later" yet still received a PIP for this month?

FarmBoy

Where is AdsenseAdvisor?

Ping!

Now would be a good time to comment.

Could somebody post a legal-department approved privacy notice we can put on our sites?

The first post of this thread probably should have the actual blog details. For those who missed it, here it is verbatim?

---

Updated Terms and Conditions

Every now and then, we update the AdSense Terms and Conditions to make sure they're in line with policies across Google, and to prepare for future changes to the products and services we offer. As part of these regular updates, you'll soon sign in to your account and see that the Terms have been updated, prompting you to read through and accept them.

This time around, most of the changes to the Terms and Conditions fall into two broad categories: 1) future products and features and 2) privacy requirements. Specifically, one of the main changes is that the terms anticipate future products that may become available in other advertising formats and mediums, for example Gadget Ads. As we look forward to monetizing more online and offline content, we've re-worded some portions of the terms to make them applicable across a broader array of media and formats -- anticipating, for example, that future products may be priced, paid, or managed differently than current ones.

We've also added some specific requirements that make it necessary for publishers to post and abide by a transparent privacy policy that users see. According to this policy, publishers must notify their users of the use of cookies and/or web beacons to collect data in the ad serving process. This change relates to advertisers' use of innovative products and features like Gadget Ads and other offerings in the future.

The changes aren't limited to the areas above, however; we've made small changes throughout, so it's a good idea for you to review them thoroughly before accepting.

Posted by Julie Beckmann - AdSense Publisher Support
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 2:40:00 PM

p/g

[edited by: potentialgeek at 7:53 pm (utc) on Feb. 26, 2008]

Tried to bypass the new terms by clicking on that option, but it won't let me get into my account until I accept them. Keeps coming back to the terms page. Earlier today when I could get in it said payment was in progress. I think we'll just have to accept the terms and put a better privacy statement on each site. Not on each page, though.

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

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

Does this apply to Google Analytics or Quantcast?

That's all I need to know.

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

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.

Uh-oh, I just got the notice.

I put it off for another day...

...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.

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)

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.

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

Are we allowed to mention "Jensense" on here?

She posted an analysis on her blog.

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.

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.

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

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.