Porn advertisers find it harder to bare their wares thanks to tighter Google Adwords

 

 

Porn advertisers will definitely find it harder to promote their products and services on Google, as the Internet giant implemented new changes to its AdWords network.

 

The changes bar the promotion of most sexually themed sites, especially those that feature "graphic sexual acts with intent to arouse," CNBC reported.

 

"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," it quoted Google as saying in an email to companies that may violate the new policy.

 

It also quoted Google as saying that once the change is made, Google "will disapprove all ads and sites that are identified as being in violation of our revised policy."

 

CNBC quoted a Google spokesperson as saying the company has had "restrictive" policies on its adult category and expected many advertisers to have turned to other advertising venues, but added industry insiders claimed otherwise.

 

It quoted Theo Sapoutzis, chairman and CEO of AVN Media Network, as saying he was caught by surprise, and that he wasone of the first advertisers for AdWords in 2002.

 

Tom Hymes, senior editor at industry trade publication AVN, said many say the biggest losers "are the ones who play by the rules."

 

"This is another example of a mainstream company turning its back on the industry that has supported it... The question now becomes: Will they block adult content from their search results?" said Michael Fattorosi of Fattorosi & Associates, which represents the adult industry.

 

CNBC said anti-porn activists Morality in Media took credit for the AdWords policy change, claiming the modifications stemmed from its meeting with Google last May. 

 

But it added Google first indicated it would change its policies in March. — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News