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Google To Prohibit Fake News Websites From Using Its Ad-Selling Software (reuters.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the straight-from-the-source dept.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Google is working on a policy update that will prohibit fake news websites from using its ad-selling software. The move would ultimately make it more challenging for those fake news sites to earn revenue. Reuters reports: The policy change is imminent, Google spokeswoman Andrea Faville told Reuters. "Moving forward, we will restrict ad serving on pages that misrepresent, misstate, or conceal information about the publisher, the publisher's content, or the primary purpose of the web property," she said in a statement. The policy change comes amid an intensifying debate over how much responsibility technology companies bear for monitoring the accuracy of content as more and more people access news through sites such as Facebook rather than traditional media companies. Facebook, in particular, has been criticized over the spread of inaccurate articles promoting U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on the site. Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has denied that the site influenced the outcome of the election. Google's AdSense advertising network is a key financial driver for many publishers. The company places various restrictions on where its ads may be placed, including bans on pornographic and violent content. Work on the policy update began before the election, Faville said.

2 of 294 comments (clear)

  1. Is anyone even reading these days? by Lisandro · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Moving forward, we will restrict ad serving on pages that misrepresent, misstate, or conceal information about the publisher, the publisher's content, or the primary purpose of the web property".

    This is straightforward. Why is everyone acting like Google is trying to control news?

  2. Fire BeauHD by bongey · · Score: 3, Informative

    F**king BeauHD cannot get over the butt hurt of the election. His twitter feed, "Trump is a saggy sack of shit. If any one of you is even remotely considering voting for him this November, please unfollow me. "
    "That sack of shit next to Hillary is attracting flies! #debate"
    "Clinton wiped the floor with Trump tonight. Say hello to your next president, America!"
    " It's only a story because it has the 'Trump' buzzword. Stupid media is stupid."
    "I bet Trump hired the climber for publicity."