Google takes additional restrictions around the war in Ukraine. From now on, content can no longer be monetized on this subject, in particular to avoid fake news.
It is by an email, sent on April 13, 2022 to advertisers, that Google has just clarified its rules with regard to content that seeks to make money on the war in Ukraine: this monetization is no longer possible. This change in policy, explains the American company, aims to limit the emergence of false information about the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe.
The change applies without distinction to content that ” exploit, deny or condone war “, but the Mountain View firm targets in particular what is misinformation. As examples, Google cites allegations that Ukraine is committing genocide or deliberately attacking its own citizens.
Progressive restrictions
The company’s announcement echoes similar measures taken in other times, on equivalent subjects that could carry fake news. In March 2020, when the coronavirus epidemic was spreading at full speed in the West, YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, had adjusted its rules to demonetize videos evoking covid-19.
Google’s changes to monetized content about the war in Ukraine were taken quite some time ago, but they were not known to everyone. The new framework dates from March 23, nearly a month after the start of hostilities – an awareness that seems late, although Google says it has taken a series of steps before.
Thus, the company recalls having decided before March 23 to close several funding channels to Russia: as of February 26, two days after the invasion of Ukraine, the media financed by Moscow were deprived of monetization. On March 3, ad serving to users located in Russia was cut. And on March 10, new restrictions were announced.
