Google introduces block on porn advertising on AdWords

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/03/google-block-porn-advertising-adwords

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Google has enforced a block on adverts that promote "sexually explicit content" from its advertising network across Google's search engine and other sites.

The AdWords policy change announced in March went into effect on Monday, catching some advertisers unaware.

"I was caught by surprise," Theo Sapoutzis, chairman and CEO of AVN Media Network told CNBC.

"I was one of the very first advertisers for AdWords back in 2002. It's something that's been [untouched] for 12 years, so you don't expect change is going to start happening.”

Strip clubs and dating sites are still permitted

While sexually explicit content, including masturbation and oral sex, is banned from AdWords under the new rules, adverts for other adult entertainment including strip clubs and dating sites are still permitted.

Some conservative lobby groups in the US, including Morality in Media, have claimed credit for the move by putting pressure on Google, media organisations and internet service providers to limit access to pornography - despite it being legal in the US.

Google banned porn blogs from making money via ads for adult websites on the company-owned Blogger blog network in June 2013, while Google’s “SafeSearch” has long filtered explicit results from being displayed in searches.

AdWords is Google's advertising platform that places ads on Google sites as well as third-party websites that can use Google to make money. Google made $13.8bn (£8bn) in ad revenue in the last quarter, which accounts for around 90% of the search company’s total revenue.

'Make any necessary changes to your ads and sites to comply'

Google informed potentially affected advertisers of the change via email.

“When we make this change, Google will disapprove all ads and sites that are identified as being in violation of our revised policy,” said that warning email. “Our system identified your account as potentially affected by this policy change. We ask that you make any necessary changes to your ads and sites to comply so that your campaigns can continue to run.”

The impact of Google’s policy change on the adult entertainment industry is unclear. Adult entertainment sites have made use of AdWords, but often rely on search results and word of mouth in attracting new users.

Just over 350m searches for the words sex, porn, free porn and porno were made using Google in May, according to Google AdWords Keyword Planner, making "porn" one of the most common searches on Google.

A company spokesperson said that Google updates its policies on a regular basis and has strict guidelines covering sexually explicit content.

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