Google’s Ad Safety Report 2022: 5B ads removed, 6.7M accounts suspended

Google recently released its Ad Safety Report 2022, which highlights the company’s dedication to maintaining a secure and trustworthy online space for its users. The report reveals that in 2022 alone, Google eliminated 5.2 billion ads, restricted over 4.3 million ads, and suspended more than 6.7 million advertiser accounts.

Moreover, Google took measures to block or limit ads from appearing on over 1.57 billion publisher pages on more than 143,000 sites, an increase from the previous year’s 63,000 sites. The company also extended its financial services verification program to 10 new countries, prioritising the validation of financial services advertisers’ authenticity.

“In 2022 we expanded our financial services certification program which requires advertisers to demonstrate that they are authorized by their local regulator to promote their products and services. This measure adds a new layer of security against fraudsters and further safeguards people from financial scams. To date, we’ve launched this program in 11 countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore. Going forward, we intend to further expand this program,” the company wrote in a blog post.

Additionally, Google introduced updated election ad policies aimed at preventing the dissemination of false information and promoting accountability and transparency in political advertising to safeguard democratic processes.

Google is also stepping up efforts to combat harmful content, including hate speech, fake news and child exploitation. These are driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms that identify and eliminate inappropriate content, the company said in the report.

Overall, Google is steadfast in its commitment to creating a secure online space and is investing in policies and enforcement measures to achieve this objective. The company believes that a safe digital ecosystem is necessary for building user trust and encouraging online growth.

“Providing a safe and trustworthy ads experience for users is a critical contribution to Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. As 2023 continues, we will stay diligent in our efforts to combat abuse across our platforms while helping advertisers and publishers grow their businesses,” the company said.