Google takes down over 5.5 billion malicious ads in 2023

The tech giant said this initiative was enhanced by AI.

Photo from Google

Google is ensuring a safer Internet experience

In a statement, Google said it was able to remove and block over 5.5 billion malicious ads in 2023, up from 2022.

The company said this initiative was optimized by generative AI. This technology was able to make safety enforcement easier by providing a better way to train existing AI systems to detect "bad" ads before internet users ever see them in their browsing.

Google said it also conducted the following:

• Limited unfamiliar advertisers - In November 2023, Google launched a new Limited Ads Serving policy designed to protect users by limiting the reach of “unfamiliar” advertisers. It implemented a "get-to-know-you" period for advertisers who don’t yet have an established track record of good behavior.
• Quickly adapted to new trends - Toward the end of 2023 and into 2024, Google said it saw a targeted campaign of ads featuring the likeness of public figures to scam users, often through the use of deepfakes. The company created a team to address this. The misrepresentation policy was also updated.
• Prevented the use of synthetic content in election ads - In 2023, Google launched a new disclosure requirement for election ads containing synthetic content. It also continued to enforce its policies against misleading claims in election-related ads.
• Launched the Ads Transparency Center - Last year, Google introduced the Ads Transparency Center that helps people quickly and easily learn more about the ads they see on Search, YouTube, and Display.
• Added more customization and optimization features - The company also updated its suitability controls to make it simpler for advertisers to exclude topics that they wish to avoid across YouTube and Display inventory. In total, Google made 31 updates to its Ads and Publisher policies.

In 2024, Google said it would continue to utilize AI to ensure the safety of people online.

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