
Google has released its 2024 Advertising Safety Report, presenting impressive figures in its campaign against deceptive advertising. Over the course of the year, the company blocked 5.1 billion ads and suspended more than 39.2 million advertiser accounts. This sharp increase in moderation efforts is a direct response to escalating threats posed by generative AI, alongside a surge in fraud and platform manipulation.
Of particular concern was a new wave of scams involving AI-generated deepfake videos featuring celebrities. These fabricated clips are often used as bait in financial and cryptocurrency fraud schemes. In response, Google tightened its content misrepresentation policies and blocked over 700,000 accounts involved in disseminating ads with synthetic portrayals of public figures.
To combat such threats effectively, Google assembled a dedicated task force comprising over a hundred experts. This team focused on analyzing fraudulent behaviors and designing countermeasures. According to the company, their efforts led to a 90% reduction in user complaints about such advertisements over the year.
AI itself has also become a crucial instrument in defense. In 2024, Google implemented more than 50 enhancements to its machine learning models to detect emerging threats proactively—before users even had a chance to report them. This anticipatory approach allowed the system to stay ahead of malicious content and prevent its proliferation.
Google also published category-specific statistics on removed advertisements. The financial services sector topped the list, with nearly 194 million ads taken down. It was followed by gambling and gaming services (146 million), adult content (122.5 million), and health-related advertising (104.8 million).
The enforcement actions extended beyond advertisers to include partner websites. Political violations were recorded across 1.3 billion web pages and 220,000 sites. Amid rising political activity, Google introduced additional safeguards, removing 10.7 million election-related ads from unverified accounts and verifying 8,900 new political advertisers.
The year’s findings underscore a profound shift in Google’s approach to advertising safety—from reactive measures to proactive user protection. In the face of growing AI-driven threats, the company remains committed to refining its control mechanisms and sustaining its momentum in the fight against misinformation and fraud.