Google Blocks 39 Million Ad Accounts In 2024, Majority Stopped Before One Ad Shows

Google recorded a 90% drop in deepfake ad reports (photo: dock. google)

JAKARTA - Google has announced a major step towards eradicating digital advertising fraud throughout 2024. The tech giant said it had suspended more than 39.2 million advertisers worldwide, more than three times compared to the previous year. Interestingly, most of these accounts were blocked even before one ad had aired.

This move is part of Google's big strategy to fight increasingly sophisticated fraud. By leveraging more than 50 upgrades to AI-based systems and large language models (LLM), as well as more than 30 new policies, Google is strengthening its advertising security systems.

In addition to advanced technology, more than 100 human experts from various teams including Ads Safety, Trust & Safety, and researchers from DeepMind were directly involved in monitoring and handling suspicious advertising practices.

Google identifies various fraudulent indicators such as falsification of business identities and suspicious payment information to discontinue accounts before advertising runs.

"Humans are still involved in the process," said Alex Rodriguez, General Manager of Google Ads Safety, in a media session.

The results are very significant. Google recorded a 90% drop in deepfake advertising reports, especially ads that use the image of a public figure illegally. In total throughout 2024, Google:

- Blocking 5.1 billion advertising, slightly lower than in 2023 which recorded 5.5 billion. This decline was actually considered positive because it showed early prevention.

- Lowering 500 million ads related to fraud.

- Presenting around 5 million special accounts due to violations related to scams.

- Removing more than 700.000 bad advertising accounts through additional policies and actions.

Google insists that user protection is a top priority, including ensuring platforms like Google Search, YouTube, and users' favorite news sites are free from malicious ads.

The strategy of the combination of cutting-edge technology and human surveillance seems to be the main key to their success in creating a safer advertising ecosystem.