With deluge of complaints, Google gets tough on toolbar ad policies

After more than 100,000 complaints in the last 90 days, Google on Tuesday announced it has toughened up its rules on developers whose downloadable software use its advertising ecosystem.

 

Vinay Rao of Google's ad traffic and publisher quality operations unit, said the updated policies will ensure that software accessing Google services will not be intrusive or give users a bad experience.

 

"[I]n the last 90 days, we have seen over 100,000 complaints about software that changed users’ browser settings or about toolbars that they couldn’t uninstall. We want to avoid these kinds of bad user experiences," Rao said in a blog post.

 

"It’s simple — we don’t want our programs or services abused in ways that can harm users. We believe that our ongoing efforts to fight abuse will ensure our advertising ecosystem continues to work in the best interests of users, publishers and advertisers," Rao added.

 

Downloadable software may include toolbars that operate in the browser.

 

Rao said the rules decree the software must:

 

* Be pre-approved by Google.

* Offer one-click, complete uninstall.

* Provide full disclosure to people about what's being installed.

* Also provide sa disclosure about changes made to devices. * Install itself on only one browser per download.

* Be bundled with and distributed by only reputable parties who comply with Google policies.

 

Rao said Google had received reports of software that change users' default browsers, search engines or homepages. Others tend to clutter users' browsers and screens or insert ads into their browsers.

 

In some cases, some software are hard to remove or even load unwanted software apps, and access personal information. – KDM, GMA News