Google Blocked 5 Billion Bad Ads & Banned 39 Million Accounts

April 16, 2025
|In Cybersecurity News
|By Diego MacCastrillon

Millions of Accounts Banned to Keep Users Safe

In 2024, Google took strong action to stop harmful and misleading ads. The company reported shutting down over 39.2 million advertiser accounts, with most caught by automated systems before their ads could reach users.

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Along with these suspensions, Google:

  • Blocked 5.1 billion bad ads
  • Limited 9.1 billion ads for breaking rules
  • Stopped ads from appearing on 1.3 billion unsafe pages
  • Banned 5 million accounts for running scams

Why Ads Were Blocked

The biggest reasons for blocking or restricting ads included:

  1. Misusing Google’s ad system (793.1 million cases)
  2. Using trademarks without permission (503.1 million cases)
  3. Breaking personalized ad rules (491.3 million cases)
  4. Ignoring legal requirements (280.3 million cases)
  5. Promoting risky financial services (193.7 million cases)
  6. False or misleading claims (146.9 million cases)
Google Blocked 5 Billion Bad Ads & Banned 39 Million Accounts
Google Blocked 5 Billion Bad Ads & Banned 39 Million Accounts

Google also stopped ads on pages with:

  • Adult content
  • Hate speech or harmful material
  • Malware or viruses
  • Violent or shocking posts
  • Weapons sales
  • Gambling, tobacco, or alcohol promotions
  • Stolen content

How AI Helps Stop Scams

Google now uses AI-powered tools to detect new scams faster. These tools look for signs like fake business profiles or suspicious payment details.

One major problem was AI-generated deepfakes—fake videos or images of public figures used in scams. Google:

  • Suspended 700,000 accounts for deepfake scams
  • Blocked 415 million misleading ads
  • Removed 5 million accounts for fraud

Stricter Rules for Advertisers

To increase trust, Google now requires identity checks for advertisers in over 200 countries. This helps stop fake accounts and ensures election ads are clear about AI-generated content.

In 2024, this policy led to:

  • 8,900+ new verified political advertisers
  • 10.7 million election ads removed from unverified accounts

Why This Matters

Cybercriminals often use fake ads to spread malware or steal personal data. By improving ad safety, Google aims to protect users from these threats.

“The online ad world keeps changing,” Google said. “With new AI tools and global events, we must stay alert to stop abuse.”

These efforts help make the internet safer, but scammers keep finding new tricks—so the fight continues.

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