Pages with coronavirus misinformation will not be able to make money with Google ads as Google bans ads on websites that push Covid-19 conspiracy theories.
Google has shifted its focus towards misconceptions spread over the internet by numerous websites related to covid-19.
With its new policy publishers who endorse coronavirus conspiracies will not be permitted to monetize their own websites with Google ads. The policy will be applicable from August 18.
Through the policy, Google can ban ads on certain pages or block the entire website from its advertising platforms.
Google already initiated steps to ban those who published medical misconceptions which can easily harm people at a vast level.
The introduction of new policy expands the banning circles by Google which includes misconceptions related to potential vaccines.
According to a spokesperson of Google who said that “We are putting additional safeguards in place by expanding our harmful health claims policies for both publishers and advertisers to include dangerous content about a health crisis that contradicts scientific consensus”.
Different tech giants struggled to control coronavirus misinformation
In the wake of coronavirus pandemic, Google struggled to maintain a balance with content. At the start of 2020, the leading search engine banned non-governmental promoters from running their advertisements on its platform.
Google already removed more than 200 million coronavirus related ads from YouTube videos and websites that do not comply with Google’s policy.
YouTube a Google’s subsidiary also faced the same situation while handling the content related to coronavirus but YouTube made it very problematic for creators to monetize video which has coronavirus information.
As per the company, the COVID-19 is a very sensitive topic and the company does not want YouTubers to earn money while spreading false information, which can be dangerous for health.
To avoid misconception Facebook is only promoting the World Health Organization (WHO) websites to its users who search for coronavirus conspiracies. Instagram which is also acquired by Facebook banned users who spread fake coronavirus schemes.
Image source
