Archive — US — techcrunch
Google is now targeting bad ads over bad actors
In 2025, Google blocked 8.3 billion ads, a significant increase from 5.1 billion the previous year, attributed to enhanced AI tools. While ad blocking surged, advertiser account suspensions fell, indicating a shift towards granular ad enforcement over broader account bans. This change reflects the rise of generative AI used by scammers, promoting a need for AI integration in ad safety measures.
Key points
- Google blocked 8.3 billion ads in 2025, up from 5.1 billion in 2024.
- The drop in account suspensions indicates a shift from broad action to targeting specific ads.
- AI, particularly Google's Gemini, detected over 99% of policy-violating ads before they reached users.
- 602 million ads and 4 million accounts linked to scams were blocked.
- In the U.S., Google removed 1.7 billion ads and suspended 3.3 million accounts due to violations.
- Google's strategy focuses on using AI to automate detection and response, reducing incorrect suspensions by 80%.
Why it matters
- The increasing sophistication of AI has led to more deceptive ads from scammers, necessitating better AI defenses.
- Historically, ad enforcement has typically relied on account suspensions; the transition to AI-driven ad specifics reflects broader industry shifts.
- The rise of generative AI aligns with the trend towards automating processes and enhancing digital security measures in advertising technology.
Google's strategy of using AI for precise ad enforcement is reshaping how online advertising is monitored, indicating a proactive approach towards combating increasingly sophisticated scams and improving user safety.