Google's Crackdown: No-Go for Deepfake Porn Ads

Google's been pretty strict about not allowing ads that are too racy for quite a while now. But here's the scoop: they've never really cracked down on advertisers promoting tools for making deepfake porn and other questionable stuff—until now, that is.

So, Google's current policy says no-go to ads that are blatantly sexual. They define it as anything meant to get you all hot and bothered—text, pics, audio, you name it. But now, they're broadening their horizons. They're putting their foot down on ads that promote services helping folks create that kind of content, whether it's by messing with someone's photo or conjuring up a new one altogether.

This change kicks in on May 30th. They're clamping down on anything synthetic that's been doctored to show nudity or explicit stuff. That means no more ads for websites or apps teaching people how to whip up deepfake porn.

According to Google's spokesperson, Michael Aciman, they mean business. Any ads that cross the line will be yanked off the internet. They're using both human and automated checks to keep things in line. Fun fact: in 2023, they axed a whopping 1.8 billion ads for breaking the rules on sexual content.

This whole thing first came to light thanks to 404 Media. They pointed out that while Google already said no to straight-up sexual content, some sneaky apps were slipping through the cracks by playing innocent on Google ads or in the app store but turning up the heat elsewhere.

And let's talk about why this matters. Deepfake porn has been causing some serious headaches lately. Remember those middle schoolers in Florida? Or the guy from Pittsburgh who landed himself in hot water for having dodgy material? It's a mess. Even the FBI had to step in, warning folks about blackmail schemes involving AI-generated nudes. Not cool.

But there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. Lawmakers are eyeing up the DEFIANCE Act, which could give victims of digital trickery a way to fight back legally. So, while the internet might seem like the wild west sometimes, there are folks out there trying to keep things in check.