Google Suspends 12.7 Million Ad Accounts and Blocks 5.5 Billion Ads in 2023

In 2023, Google took significant action to ensure the safety and integrity of its advertising platform by suspending 12.7 million ad accounts and blocking 5.5 billion ads. This move, detailed in Google’s 2023 Ads Safety Report, highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to combat fraudulent activities and maintain a secure environment for users and advertisers alike.

Google Suspends Ad Accounts: Key Takeaways

• Google suspended 12.7 million advertiser accounts in 2023, nearly double the previous year.
• The company blocked or removed 5.5 billion ads for policy violations.
• AI technology played a crucial role in identifying and suspending fraudulent accounts.
• Google implemented 31 updates to its Ads and Publisher policies to counter rising scams and fraud.

Report Findings

Google’s 2023 Ads Safety Report revealed several key statistics:

• 206.5 million ads were blocked or removed for violating the misrepresentation policy, which includes various scam tactics.
• 273.4 million ads were blocked or removed for violating the financial services policy.
• Over 1 billion ads were blocked or removed for abusing the ad network, including promoting malware.
• Ads were blocked or restricted from serving on more than 2.1 billion publisher pages.
• Broader site-level enforcement action was taken on more than 395,000 publisher sites, a significant increase from 2022.

Policy Updates

To address the increasing threats of scams and fraud, Google introduced 31 updates to its Ads and Publisher policies in 2023. Some notable updates include:

• Suitability Controls: Simplified and expedited processes for advertisers to exclude topics they wish to avoid across YouTube and Display inventory.
• Misrepresentation Policy: Enhanced capabilities for rapid suspension of accounts belonging to bad actors.
• Limited Ads Serving Policy: Designed to protect users by limiting the reach of less familiar advertisers.
• Ads Transparency Centre: A platform where users can search and find ads from verified advertisers across Search, YouTube, and Display.

Role of AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been instrumental in Google’s efforts to combat fraudulent activities. By leveraging AI, Google can identify and suspend fraudulent accounts before they infiltrate its platforms or remove them immediately upon detection. According to Duncan Lennox, VP & GM of Ads Privacy and Safety, more than 90% of publisher page-level enforcement in 2023 began with machine learning models, including the latest large language models (LLMs).

Moving Forward

While Google did not disclose specific future updates, the company confirmed its commitment to continued investment in policy, detection, and enforcement. This ongoing effort aims to enhance the safety and integrity of its advertising ecosystem.

Appeals Process

Advertisers who believe their ads were wrongly suspended can appeal Google’s enforcement actions. If an appeal is successful, Google uses these instances to improve its systems and prevent future errors.

Conclusion on Google Suspends Ad Accounts

Google’s aggressive stance on ad safety in 2023 underscores its dedication to creating a secure online environment. By suspending millions of accounts and blocking billions of ads, the company aims to protect both consumers and legitimate advertisers from fraudulent activities.

Sources

• Google suspended 12.7M accounts and blocked 5.5Bn ads in 2023, Search Engine Land.