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Display & Video 360 users must comply with this Google Ads policy. Visit the Display & Video 360 help center for additional restrictions.
Below are some examples of what to avoid in your ads. Repeated violations of our policies can lead to account suspension.
Learn about what happens if you violate our policies.
In this article:
- Solicitation of funds
- Free desktop software
- Local services
- Consumer advisories
- Government documents and services
- Call directory, forwarding, and recording services
- Event ticket sale
- Bail bond services
- Third-party consumer technical support
- High Fat Sugar Salt Food and Beverage Ads
- Dating services Japan
Solicitation of funds
Learn more about the Solicitation of funds policy and how to fix your disapproved ad or asset.
Free desktop software
Examples (non-exhaustive): Executable files (such as .exe, .dmg, zipped files, extensions, plug-ins, add-ons, desktop applications) that can run on desktop computers, laptops, or notebooks and do not require payment information to download; free trials; freeware; shareware; freemium software; demos that offer downloadable content.
Note: The authoritative online distribution source must not have a history or reputation of policy violations. Cloud service is not in scope of this policy and is excluded for the certification application.
Learn more about the Free desktop software policy and how to fix your disapproved ad or asset.
Local services
Ads for locksmith services are restricted in Germany, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands. Ads are not able to run.
Ads for local services will still be able to run outside of restricted areas, even if the business hasn’t completed verification.
Consumer advisories
For business areas where consumer advisories are common, Google may limit how ads about those products and services are served.
Example (non-exhaustive): Penny auctions (Google Ads will only show penny auction ads if the phrase "penny auction" or similar terms are included in the user's query. On the Google Display Network, these ads will be shown only on sites related to auctions.)
What is a consumer advisory?
Consumer advisories are alerts that provide information about the risks and benefits of certain products and services. These alerts are typically distributed by organizations that help protect consumers. Examples of organizations that issue consumer advisories are the Federal Trade Commission (US), the Consumer Affairs Agency (Japan), and other regional agencies that help protect consumers' interests. Consumer advisory organizations may be government agencies, but they may also be run by third-party consumer advocacy groups.
How do consumer advisories affect ads?
If a consumer advisory is issued about a certain product in one country, Google may change how ads about that product are served globally. This allows users to still view ads related to these kinds of products when specifically searching for them, but protects other users who might be unaware of the consumer concerns about similar products.
Government documents and services
The following is restricted:
Only certified governments and authorized providers may run ads that promote direct acquisition of specific government documents and services.
Government documents and services are official documents issued by the government and official services rendered by the government.
An authorized provider is an advertiser that has been given explicit permission by a government to provide a specific government document or service. To be considered an authorized provider, your domain must be linked from an official government website and explicitly referenced as authorized by that government to provide a specific government document or service.
Call directory, forwarding, and recording services
The following is not allowed:
Promotions for call directory, forwarding, and recording services.
Examples (non-exhaustive): Call directory, call forwarding, and call recording services. These services usually involve calling a phone number to obtain another phone number (or business information such as address) or to be connected to another service.
Event ticket sale
Note that if you sell or link to sites that sell resale live event tickets, you’ll need to meet certain destination requirements in order to obtain a confirmation of eligibility.
Event ticket sale is restricted to eligible primary providers in France and French territories.
Bail bond services
The following is not allowed:
Advertising of bail bonds services, which offer to act as surety in order to secure bail for a defendant.
Examples (non-exhaustive): Commercial bail bond agents, bail bonds financing services, bounty hunters, bail bondsmen, immigration bail services, detention bail services
Third-party consumer technical support
The following is not allowed:
Examples (non-exhaustive): Technical support for troubleshooting, security, virus removal, internet connectivity, online accounts (for example, password resets or login support), hardware support and repairs, or software installation
Note: We allow advertising for the sale of consumer technology where the landing page might contain navigational features related to technical support.
High Fat Sugar Salt Food and Beverage Ads
We support responsible advertising of food and beverages. HFSS F&B ads and destination sites are allowed if they comply with the policies below and don’t target minors. The information reflected in this policy is not intended to be legal advice and we expect all advertisers to comply with the local laws for any region their ads target, including local requirements that may differ from this HFSS F&B policy.
Advertisers are required to self-declare that they are using an account to run HFSS F&B campaigns, and all the creatives within that account will be subject to the HFSS F&B policy restrictions. In order to self-declare please use the form here.
We consider ads to be promoting the sale of HFSS products when one or more HFSS food item, beverage, or meal is promoted on the ad creative (text, imagery, audio and/or video) or destination site.
Learn more about the High Fat Sugar Salt Food and Beverage Ads policy, examples of F&B products that are considered HFSS and how to fix your disapproved ad or asset.
Dating services Japan
Advertisers offering online dating services targeting Japan must be certified by Google before they can advertise through Google Ads. Apply for certification here.
In addition, the ads must also include a warning display "18禁" or “18+”.