Google is banning porn from its AdWords platform

As of this week, no more advertisements incorporating “sexually explicit content” will be promoted by Google’s advertising network. Google’s AdWords platform is used to place advertisements on Google-owned sites; other sites can also choose to host AdWord ads on their own sites. The platform is thought to be responsible for the majority of Google’s revenue, but although Google has placed restrictions on adult content for a while, the latest changes could potentially have chased some advertisers elsewhere. According to CNBC, Google sent a message to advertisers at the beginning of June in order to notify them that it will no longer accept ads “that promote graphic depictions of sexual acts.” It went on to say that this included content such as hardcore pornography and the depiction of masturbation and genital, anal, and oral sexual acts.

Google is getting out of the porn advertising business. The changes, which went into effect late Monday, prohibit any promotion of most sexually themed sites, specifically those that feature “graphic sexual acts with intent to arouse including sex acts such as masturbation.” A company spokesperson noted that Google has long had restrictive policies on its adult category for some time and expected many advertisers had already looked to other advertising venues. Industry insiders, though, tell a different story. “I was caught by surprise,” says Theo Sapoutzis, chairman and CEO of AVN Media Network. “I was one of the very first advertisers for AdWords back in 2002. It’s something that’s been [untouched] for 12 years, so you don’t expect change is going to start happening.” Notification of the policy change came in an email, sent to companies that were positioned to be in violation of the new policy earlier in June, which read: “Beginning in the coming weeks, we’ll no longer accept ads that promote graphic depictions of sexual acts including, but not limited to, hardcore pornography; graphic sexual acts including sex acts such as masturbation; genital, anal, and oral sexual activity.”