Upcoming AdWords policy changes to better protect people’s personal and financial information

AdWords should be a safe, fair, and trusted marketplace for both you and the users who click on your ads. That’s why many AdWords policies focus on transparency, user safety, and security.

On May 17th, we’ll be adding three requirements to our existing AdWords policies that cover disclosure and usage of personal information. These requirements will apply everywhere AdWords is available.

If your site requests payment, financial, or personal information from visitors, please review the new requirements and make any needed changes to avoid having your ads suspended.

1. Clear, accessible disclosure before visitors submit personal information
   Our existing policy requires you to clearly describe how any personal information you solicit will be used. Soon, we’ll require that your description must also be easily accessible before site visitors submit their details.
2. Option to discontinue direct communications
   In the same description of how personal information will be used, you’ll also be required to describe how people can opt out of future emails, phone calls, or other direct communications.
3. SSL when collecting payment and certain financial and personal information
   Many websites use what are known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connections to encrypt sensitive information that travels between the user's browser and the website's servers. To help ensure user safety, AdWords policy will require all advertisers to use SSL when collecting payments and certain financial and personal information (like bank account and social security numbers).

For more details, check out the following resources:

• Specific personal and financial information governed by these policies
• Getting started with SSL

To stay current on all AdWords policy changes, please visit the AdWords Policy Change Log.

Posted by Dan Friedman, Inside AdWords crew