Content policies

Prohibited content

Want to make sure your content is not violating AdSense policies? Check a detailed explanation and example of each of our content policies.

Click on the link below to be directed to the article of your choice:

Adult content
Content that advocates against an individual, group, or organization
Copyrighted material
Recreational drugs and drug-related content
Alcohol and tobacco-related content
Healthcare-related content
Hacking and cracking content
Sites that offer compensation programs ("pay-to" sites)
Sites that use Google Brand features
Violent content
Weapon-related content
Content that enables dishonest behavior
Illegal content

If you've found a site violating the AdSense program policies, please report it here.

Adult content

What's the policy?

The AdSense network is considered family-safe, which means that publishers aren't permitted to place Google ads on sites which contain pornography, adult, or mature content. If your site has content which you wouldn't be comfortable viewing at work or with family members around, then it probably isn't an appropriate site for Google ads. Please note that we also don't allow AdSense for search (AFS) search boxes to be placed on adult content pages.

View detailed examples of adult content that violate the AdSense program policies.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Content that advocates against an individual, group, or organization

What's the policy?

Google believes strongly in the freedom of expression, but also recognizes the need to protect the quality of the AdSense network for users, advertisers, and publishers.

Google ads aren't permitted on sites that contain harassing or bullying content, or on content that incites hatred or promotes violence against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity. Additionally, Google ads may not appear on content that incites or advocates for harm against an individual or group.

However, websites containing educational, documentary, historical, scientific, or artistic content related to such subjects are permitted to participate in AdSense.

Examples

Examples*

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Political advertising sites (and other political content) as long as they are not hate-related or advocating for harm against another party Satire sites that do not advocate violence or target hateful content against an individual or group Religious organization sites as long as they are not hate-related or advocating against another religious organization Consumer awareness sites (e.g., review sites, both positive and negative) Academic material or case studies about harassment in the workplace	Sites with content that advocates/condones violence or makes threats of harm against an individual or group Sites with harassing or bullying content Sites with content that incites or promotes hatred against a group or individuals Content that encourages others to believe that a group or individual is inhuman or inferior Content that attacks a person or group on the basis sexual orientation or gender identity

Acceptable

Not acceptable

Political advertising sites (and other political content) as long as they are not hate-related or advocating for harm against another party
Satire sites that do not advocate violence or target hateful content against an individual or group
Religious organization sites as long as they are not hate-related or advocating against another religious organization
Consumer awareness sites (e.g., review sites, both positive and negative)
Academic material or case studies about harassment in the workplace

Sites with content that advocates/condones violence or makes threats of harm against an individual or group
Sites with harassing or bullying content
Sites with content that incites or promotes hatred against a group or individuals
Content that encourages others to believe that a group or individual is inhuman or inferior
Content that attacks a person or group on the basis sexual orientation or gender identity

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Copyrighted material

What's the policy?

Google ads may not be displayed on websites with content protected by copyright law unless they have the necessary legal rights to display or direct traffic to that content. Some examples of copyrighted content might include MP3 and video files, television shows, software, comics, and literary works.

When a website displays someone else's website within a frame or window on their own site, this is considered framing content. Placing Google ads on such pages is strictly prohibited.

Examples

Examples*

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Sites offering bittorrent clients (software for downloading torrents)	Sites that host or directly link to copyrighted content Warez sites ROM sites Sites dedicated to audio or video file downloads Sites that explicitly state the material is pirated

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Recreational drugs and drug-related content

What's the policy?

We want to help keep people safe both online and offline, so we don't allow the promotion of some products or services that cause damage, harm, or injury. For this reason, Google prohibits ads on pages which sell or promote recreational drugs and drug-related content including:

Promotion of substances that alter mental state for the purpose of recreation or otherwise induce "highs". Examples:
- Cocaine, crystal meth, heroin, marijuana, cocaine substitutes, mephedrone, "legal highs"
Products or services marketed as facilitating recreational drug use. Examples:
- Pipes, bongs, cannabis coffee shops
Instructional content about producing, purchasing, or using recreational drugs. Examples:
- Forums to exchange tips or recommendations on drug use

Please be aware that the promotion of prohibited content includes providing links to sites that do not follow our recreational drugs and drug-related content policies.

Examples

Examples *

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Sites that promote drug-rehabilitation. Information sites about the history of a recreational drug (e.g., opium wars).	Sales or promotion of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. Note: Drugs illegal by U.S. Federal Law are unacceptable even if legal elsewhere.

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Alcohol and tobacco-related content

What's the policy?

Google prohibits ads on pages which promote certain alcohol and tobacco-related content including:

Promotion of beer, hard alcohol, or liqueurs.
Promotion of tobacco and tobacco-related products, including cigarettes, cigars, tobacco pipes, and rolling paper.

Please be aware that the promotion of prohibited content includes providing links to sites that do not follow our alcohol and tobacco-related content policies. However, publishers are permitted to place ads on informational content relating to brewing or distilling beer, as well as content related to the topic of quitting smoking.

Examples

Examples *

Alcohol

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Sites that sell wine and champagne Sites that sell equipment or provide information on how to distill or brew beer Directories of pub locations	Sites that primarily sell alcohol (beer, hard alcohol, or liqueurs) directly from their site. Note: Sites that predominantly sell wine and/or champagne are exempted.

Tobacco

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Informational sites about quitting smoking Informational sites that do not sell tobacco products	Sites that primarily sell tobacco products (cigars, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or rolling papers)

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Healthcare-related content

What's the policy?

To comply with local laws and regulations related to the promotion of healthcare and medicines, Google prohibits ads on pages that contain certain healthcare-related content including:

Online sale of prescription medication. Examples:
- Sales of prescription drugs, even if through an affiliate program
- Online pharmacies
- Sites that primarily drive traffic to online drugstores/pharmacies
Sale of unapproved pharmaceuticals and supplements. Examples:
- All items on this non-exhaustive list of prohibited pharmaceuticals and supplements (e.g., products that contain Ephedra)
- Herbal and dietary supplements with active pharmaceutical or dangerous ingredients
- Products with names that are confusingly similar to an unapproved pharmaceutical or supplement or controlled substance

Examples

Examples *

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Sites that sell over-the-counter drugs Informational sites about prescription drugs and unapproved pharmaceuticals and supplements including Ephedra	Sales of prescription drugs, even if through an affiliate programs Sites that primarily drive traffic to online drugstores/pharmacies Sites that sell Ephedra or alternatives to Ephedra, such as Ephedrine All items on this non-exhaustive list of prohibited pharmaceuticals and supplements

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Hacking and cracking content

What's the policy?

Placement of Google ads is not permitted on websites that promote any form of hacking or cracking. Hacking and cracking content is content that provides users with instructions or equipment that tampers with or provides illegal access to software, servers, or websites.

Examples

Examples*

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Sites that provide information on “unlocking" or “jail-breaking" cellular phones Information or software for DVD, CD, game ripping, or MP3 music downloads (must not violate our copyright policy by providing downloads of copyrighted materials or driving traffic to sites with content of this nature Sites that provide information on free-to-air satellite channels	Sites or products that enable illegal access of cell phones and other communications or content delivery systems or devices Products or services that bypass copyright protection, including circumvention of digital rights management technologies Products that illegally descramble cable or satellite signals in order to get free services Sites that assist or enable users to download streaming videos if prohibited by the content provider, such as those found on YouTube and Google Video

Acceptable

Not acceptable

Sites that provide information on “unlocking" or “jail-breaking" cellular phones
Information or software for DVD, CD, game ripping, or MP3 music downloads (must not violate our copyright policy by providing downloads of copyrighted materials or driving traffic to sites with content of this nature
Sites that provide information on free-to-air satellite channels

Sites or products that enable illegal access of cell phones and other communications or content delivery systems or devices
Products or services that bypass copyright protection, including circumvention of digital rights management technologies
Products that illegally descramble cable or satellite signals in order to get free services
Sites that assist or enable users to download streaming videos if prohibited by the content provider, such as those found on YouTube and Google Video

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Sites that offer compensation programs ("pay-to" sites)

What's the policy?

The term "pay-to" refers to sites that promise payment or incentives to users who click on ads, surf the web, read emails, or perform other similar tasks. Placing Google ads on such pages may result in invalid impressions or clicks and is therefore prohibited. Similarly, sites which primarily drive traffic to or discuss pay-to services are not permitted to show ads.

Examples

Examples*

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Sites that pay you to complete an action, as long as the action does not involve clicking on ads or artificially inflating ad impressions (Pay-To-Survey sites, Cashback sites) Safelist sites (opt-in groups where users promote their sites over email)	Pay-To-Click Sites Pay-To-Surf Sites Auto-Surf Sites "Search for Charity Sites" Pay-To-Search Sites

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Sites that use Google Brand features

What's the policy?

The use of Google brand features such as logos, screenshots, or other distinctive features without our express permission is not allowed. For more information about use of our trademarks and brand features, please review Google's Guidelines for Third-Party Use of Brand Features.

Examples

Examples*

Not acceptable
Mimic the Google user interface or frame Google services, such as Google Finance or Google News Imply having an affiliation or partnership with Google Primarily offer "get rich quick" or other schemes involving Google products Publishers are not permitted to abuse or promote the abuse of any Google product, such as YouTube, Google Play, or Blogger. This includes circumventing, or providing the means to circumvent, the policies or terms of these or other Google products, such as by allowing users to download YouTube videos. Contain Google's trademarked terms in the site's URL

Not acceptable

Mimic the Google user interface or frame Google services, such as Google Finance or Google News
Imply having an affiliation or partnership with Google
Primarily offer "get rich quick" or other schemes involving Google products
Publishers are not permitted to abuse or promote the abuse of any Google product, such as YouTube, Google Play, or Blogger. This includes circumventing, or providing the means to circumvent, the policies or terms of these or other Google products, such as by allowing users to download YouTube videos.
Contain Google's trademarked terms in the site's URL

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Violent content

What's the policy?

Our program policies don't allow Google ads to be placed on content that contains graphic or gory images such as bloodshed, fight scenes, and gruesome or freak accidents. Publishers are responsible for every page on which their ad code appears and for screening any text, images, videos, or other media which will appear on a page with Google ads.

Examples

Examples*

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Boxing or martial arts sites	Breaking bones Getting hit by trains/cars Receiving other serious injuries Sites devoted to fight videos Sites with gory videos or images

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Weapon-related content

What's the policy?

Google ads are not permitted to appear on sites that sell, facilitate or advocate the sales of weapons and weapon accessories. This includes but is not limited to the sales of ammunition, gun parts, hardware, pistols, rifles, BB guns, sporting guns, air guns, blow guns, and stun guns. This policy also prohibits the placement of ads on sites which sell explosives, including fireworks.

Examples

Examples*

Acceptable	Not acceptable
Sites that are primarily about the sport of hunting Sites that sell antique guns, non-working replicas, emergency flares, paintball guns, scopes, or holsters Sites located outside the U.S. that sell Airsoft guns Sites in the U.S. that sell Airsoft guns and have the appropriate disclaimer on the landing page Sites which contains content regarding archery or bowhunting Sites that sell collectible knives, daggers, swords, cutlery, chef knives, or sporting equipment	Sites that sell firearms, ammunition, and gun accessories Sites that catalogue individual firearms Sites that drive traffic to firearm sales Sites in the U.S. that sell Airsoft guns and DO NOT have the appropriate disclaimer on the landing page Sites that sell knives or weapons with an intended violent use Sites that teach bomb or other explosive-making or give instructions on how to harm or kill Sites that sell fireworks or pyrotechnic devices

Acceptable

Not acceptable

Sites that are primarily about the sport of hunting
Sites that sell antique guns, non-working replicas, emergency flares, paintball guns, scopes, or holsters
Sites located outside the U.S. that sell Airsoft guns
Sites in the U.S. that sell Airsoft guns and have the appropriate disclaimer on the landing page
Sites which contains content regarding archery or bowhunting
Sites that sell collectible knives, daggers, swords, cutlery, chef knives, or sporting equipment

Sites that sell firearms, ammunition, and gun accessories
Sites that catalogue individual firearms
Sites that drive traffic to firearm sales
Sites in the U.S. that sell Airsoft guns and DO NOT have the appropriate disclaimer on the landing page
Sites that sell knives or weapons with an intended violent use
Sites that teach bomb or other explosive-making or give instructions on how to harm or kill
Sites that sell fireworks or pyrotechnic devices

* Please note that these examples are not limited to the following.

Additional information

I received a policy notification asking me to make changes to my site

Please read the notification carefully and make any appropriate changes to your site to resolve the issue.
Keep in mind that the example page we provide is just an example, and you should review your entire site to ensure that the same issue doesn't continue to exist on other pages.
We constantly review publishers for compliance with AdSense program policies, so there's no need for you to contact us and inform us of your changes.

Click here for more information.

Ads were disabled on my site

Please carefully review your notification to learn specifically why ad serving was disabled to your site. All policy notifications are sent via email or can be accessed in your AdSense account.
After making any necessary changes to your site, you can request a re-review of your site by filling out this form.

My account was disabled

For more information on why your account was disabled and next steps, please click here.

Content that enables dishonest behavior

What's the policy?

We value honesty and fairness, so we don't allow Google ads on pages with content that helps users to mislead others. Examples:

Content that promotes creating fake or false documents such as passports, diplomas, or accreditation;
Content that promotes creation of fake or false identities;
Sale or distribution of term papers, paper-writing or exam-taking services;
Information or products for passing drug tests;
Content that promotes fraudulent activity.

Illegal content

Google ads may not be placed on any site that contains content that is illegal, promotes illegal activity, or infringes on the legal rights of others.

Counterfeit goods

AdSense publishers may not display Google ads on webpages that offer for sale or promote the sale of counterfeit goods. Counterfeit goods contain a trademark or logo that is identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the trademark of another. They mimic the brand features of the product in an attempt to pass themselves off as a genuine product of the brand owner.

Underage, non-consensual, or illegal sex acts

Google AdSense absolutely prohibits monetization of content related to child sexual abuse imagery or pedophilia. Google has always been at the forefront in the fight against online child abuse, and an avid supporter of family safety online.

Under United States federal law, child sexual abuse imagery is defined as visual depictions of minors (i.e., under 18) engaged in a sexual act such as intercourse, oral sex, or masturbation as well as the lascivious depictions of the genitals (covered or uncovered). This definition extends to photographs, videos, cartoons, drawings, paintings, and sculptures. The image can involve a real child; a computer-generated, morphed, composite or otherwise altered image that appears to be a child (think “Photoshop”). This also includes soliciting minors for sexual acts, which is also known as "enticement."

Pedophilia is any content or behavior (images, texts, videos, etc.) that depicts, encourages, or promotes sexual attraction by adults toward minors (i.e., under 18).

Next: Adult content

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