Google updates policies to ban any ads for surveillance solutions and services

Google announced that starting from August it will update its policies to reject ads proposed by organizations offering surveillance software.

Google announced the update of its Google Ads Enabling Dishonest Behavior policy to “prohibit the promotion of products or services that are marketed or targeted with the express purpose of tracking or monitoring another person or their activities without their authorization.” The tech giant announced that the update will be effective starting from August 11, 2020.

The move aims at fighting the advertising of any form of surveillance.

Google wants to halt the use of ads for technology that could allow monitoring a person’s online activity (i.e. access their messages, phone calls, or tracking their position).

“In August 2020, the Google Ads Enabling Dishonest Behavior policy will be updated to clarify restrictions on advertising for spyware and surveillance technology.”reads the post published by Google.“

“Spyware and technology used for intimate partner surveillance including but not limited to spyware/malware that can be used to monitor texts, phone calls, or browsing history; GPS trackers specifically marketed to spy or track someone without their consent; promotion of surveillance equipment (cameras, audio recorders, dash cams, nanny cams) marketed with the express purpose of spying.”

The new restrictions does not impact private investigation services or any products or services that allow parents to track or monitor their children online.

Google’s updated policy will also hit the promotion of surveillance equipment such as audio recorders, cameras, dash cams and nanny cams that are being advertised with the express purpose of spying.

Google will issue a warning for any violation of the policy before suspending the accounts that doesn’t respect the rules within 7 days.

Advertisers are advised to remove any ads that can result in a violation of the policy, before August 11.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, ads)

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Pierluigi Paganini

Pierluigi Paganini is member of the ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security) Threat Landscape Stakeholder Group and Cyber G7 Group, he is also a Security Evangelist, Security Analyst and Freelance Writer. Editor-in-Chief at "Cyber Defense Magazine", Pierluigi is a cyber security expert with over 20 years experience in the field, he is Certified Ethical Hacker at EC Council in London. The passion for writing and a strong belief that security is founded on sharing and awareness led Pierluigi to find the security blog "Security Affairs" recently named a Top National Security Resource for US. Pierluigi is a member of the "The Hacker News" team and he is a writer for some major publications in the field such as Cyber War Zone, ICTTF, Infosec Island, Infosec Institute, The Hacker News Magazine and for many other Security magazines. Author of the Books "The Deep Dark Web" and “Digital Virtual Currency and Bitcoin”.