AdSense Privacy Policy: What It Must Include (Free Template)
By Ramón Martínez · Updated 24 Oct 2026 · 8 min read
Before you put Google AdSense ads on your site, you need a privacy policy that actually talks about advertising. A generic "we respect your privacy" page isn't enough. AdSense program policies ask publishers to tell visitors that Google and other vendors use cookies to serve ads, and how they can opt out of personalized advertising.
It's one of the most overlooked pages on new sites, and one of the quickest to fix. Here's what to put in it, where to place it, and a template to get you started.
Why AdSense cares about your privacy policy
When you join AdSense you agree to follow its policies, and disclosing advertising cookies is part of that. A clear privacy page also signals that a real, accountable person or business runs the site, which fits the trust signals (E-E-A-T) reviewers look for.
Google doesn't publish an exhaustive list of what triggers a rejection here, so nobody can promise that this page alone makes or breaks your application. But a missing policy, or one that never mentions ads, is an obvious gap worth closing before you apply.
Checklist: what your policy should cover
| Section | What to say |
|---|---|
| Who runs the site | Your name or business, plus a working contact method. |
| Data you collect | Contact forms, comments, newsletter sign-ups, analytics, server logs. |
| Third-party ad cookies | Google and other third-party vendors use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to your site or other sites. |
| Google's advertising cookies | These cookies let Google and its partners serve ads based on visits to your site and/or other sites on the internet. |
| How to opt out | A link to Google's Ads Settings (adssettings.google.com) to turn off personalized ads. |
| Link to Google's policy | "How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services" (policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites). |
| Other ad networks | If you use any, name them or link to their policies. |
| Consent | How you ask for consent (where required) and how visitors can change their choice. |
| User rights | How visitors can request access to, correction of, or deletion of their data. |
| Last updated date | So readers know the policy is maintained. |
Where to put it
- Give it its own page with a clear URL such as
/privacy-policy. - Link it in the footer of every page, next to your About and Contact links.
- Keep it indexable. No
noindex, norobots.txtblock. Reviewers and crawlers need to reach it. - Match your site's language. An English site gets an English policy; a bilingual site gets one per language.
- Check it on mobile. Some themes collapse or hide the footer on small screens.
Is your privacy policy linked where it should be?
MonetizeReady checks the page you're on and flags a missing privacy policy link or a missing consent message with a traffic light. Free for Chrome.
Add to Chrome — freeFree AdSense privacy policy template
Copy this as a starting point and edit it to match what your site really does. It isn't legal advice: if you handle sensitive data, sell products, or are unsure about the laws that apply to you, talk to a professional.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: [date]Who we are. [domain] is run by [your name or business]. You can reach us at [email].
Information we collect. If you use our contact form or leave a comment, we store your name, email address and message so we can reply. [Add newsletter, analytics or other tools you use.]
Advertising. This site uses Google AdSense to display ads. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user's prior visits to this website or other websites. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to this site and/or other sites on the internet.
You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. To learn more, see How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
Consent. Visitors from the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland are shown a consent message where they can accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can change your choice at any time via [link or button].
Your rights. You can ask us to access, correct or delete your personal data by emailing [email]. Depending on where you live, you may also contact your local data protection authority.
Don't forget the consent message
Your policy explains; a consent message asks. To serve ads to users in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland, Google requires a Google-certified consent management platform (CMP). AdSense has its own option under Privacy & messaging, which is the simplest route if you don't already use another certified CMP.
If most of your audience is in the US, you may also want to look at the US state privacy messaging options in the same section. Whatever you show, keep the banner and the policy consistent with each other.
Common mistakes
- Copying another site's policy, complete with their business name, email or tools you don't use.
- No mention of advertising because the policy predates your AdSense plans.
- Broken links to Ads Settings or Google's partner-sites page.
- A PDF download only instead of a normal web page.
- Never updating it after adding analytics, live chat or another ad network.
FAQ
Will AdSense reject me without a privacy policy?
Google doesn't spell out every rejection reason, so there's no guarantee either way. What is clear is that AdSense policies require you to disclose advertising cookies, so having a proper policy is part of complying with the program, not an optional extra.
Can I use a privacy policy generator?
As a first draft, yes. Then read it line by line, make sure it includes the Google advertising sections from the checklist above, and delete anything about services you don't use.
Do I need a separate cookie policy?
It depends on the laws that apply to you. Sites targeting the EU often have a dedicated cookie page linked from the consent banner. What matters is that the ad cookie information exists and is easy to find.
Do I have to name every ad network?
If AdSense is your only network, covering Google is enough. If you add others, it's sensible to name them or link to their policies.
Where do I add it on WordPress or Blogger?
Create it as a page (not a post) and add it to a footer menu or footer widget. Then confirm the link also shows on mobile.
Next, work through the full AdSense approval checklist, make sure you're not hit by "low value content", and set up your ads.txt file once you're approved.
MonetizeReady is an independent tool, not affiliated with Google. AdSense is a trademark of Google LLC.