Barbara
### Google’s Ban on Sexually Explicit Content
Google has long prohibited sexually explicit ads but had not previously banned advertisers from promoting services that could be used to create deepfake porn and other forms of generated nudes. However, that is about to change as Google is updating its policy to include a ban on advertisements for such services as well.
### New Policy Against Deepfake Porn
Effective May 30th, Google’s new policy explicitly prohibits the promotion of synthetic content that has been altered or generated to be sexually explicit or contain nudity. This includes services like websites and apps that provide instructions on creating deepfake porn.
### Enforcement and Removal of Ads
Google spokesperson Michael Aciman stated that any ads violating the policy will be removed. The company uses a combination of human reviews and automated systems to enforce these policies. In 2023 alone, Google removed over 1.8 billion ads that violated their policies on sexual content.
### Prohibiting AI-Generated Porn
The change in policy was first reported by 404 Media. Despite Google’s existing ban on sexually explicit content, some apps facilitating the creation of deepfake porn have bypassed this by not explicitly marketing themselves as sexual on Google ads or in the Google Play store.
### Deepfake Porn as a Growing Issue
Nonconsensual deepfake porn has become an increasingly prevalent problem. Recent incidents, such as the arrests of Florida middle schoolers for creating AI-generated nude photos of classmates, highlight the urgent need to address the issue. There have also been cases of individuals being sentenced for possessing deepfake child sexual abuse material.
### Legislative Action Against Deepfake Porn
Legislative action may soon be taken against deepfake porn. The DEFIANCE Act, recently introduced in the House and Senate, aims to provide a legal process for victims of “digital forgery” to sue those responsible for making or distributing nonconsensual deepfakes.
**Sources:**
– [Google Ads Policy Update](https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/6015406?hl=en&ref_topic=1626336&sjid=14872165280225828401-NC)
– [Google Ads Safety Report](https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/google-ads-safety-report-2023/#enforcement)
– [404 Media on Google’s Ad Policy Update](https://www.404media.co/google-updates-ad-policy-to-ban-all-ai-generated-porn)
– [Information on the DEFIANCE Act](https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ocasio-cortez-leads-bipartisan-bicameral-introduction-defiance-act-combat)
