It's opt-out not opt-in. As far as I know we all got the e-mail (unless maybe when opted-out of Google e-mails).
Yes you need a privacy policy. Yes you *might* get in trouble not having one.

BTW. Welcome to Webmasterworld.

Thanks! I just added a privacy policy to my site using JenSense's template and a few added lines to reflect the interest-based part (not "interested" as I put in the title, lol).

I'm really not sure why I didn't get the email about it though. I remember hearing about another opt-out email sent last year for some new TOS from Google, but I don't think I got that one either. I'll look into it.

Thanks!

I didn't get the email either.
I assumed it had only been rolled out in the US and didn't apply to me yet, but I saw a note in the adsense console, so I guess it does.
Weird stuff. I don't see why Google thinks we care that much - "Apply to our program and we'll show ads over which you have no control"
Mar 2009 "We're going to show slightly different ads now. No we still won't tell you which ones"
The whole program is just weird.

I never received an E-mail regarding this either. I checked my information in my AdSense account, and it is correct. Perhaps Google should post important notices like this inside our AdSense account when we login, to make sure everyone sees it. Maybe their message got caught in a spam filter somewhere, it's something they should consider.

If you browse through the Google making ads more "interesting" [webmasterworld.com] thread, you'll find that many had to pull the e-mail out of their junk folder, myself included. The e-mail was probably sent out to all publishers. As for the discussion on the updated privacy policies, have a look at Google is requiring changes in publishers Privacy Policy [webmasterworld.com].

If you're not getting service announcements like this, you may want to add adsense-noreply@google.com to your address book. That's the email address from which we send most announcements to US publishers (other countries have slightly different addresses, so be sure to check an old email first).

[edited by: tedster at 10:22 pm (utc) on Mar. 23, 2009]
[edit reason] by ASA's request [/edit]

Tos 9.
# Email excerpts of ANY type or length are not allowed on WebmasterWorld. There are no exceptions to this rule.

Unfortunately you'll get moderated ;).

(sorry, having a bad day)

@ AdSenseAdvisor Given the number of people who have said they didn't get this message, I'd suggest that 'copy email messages to "Recent messages" in console' be added to the todo list.
Wouldn't it be nice to reach people reliably?

http://www.webmasterworld.com/google_adsense/3875496.htm

Whoops! Sorry, all. Please forgive my forgetfulness.

AdWords Advisor is definitely going to make fun of me for this.

ASA