Report: Google removed election scam ads from search results.
In the years 2020 and 2022, the number of ads directed at voters increased.
A new report from the Tech Transparency Project reveals that Google has removed fraudulent ads related to the electoral process that proliferated during the 2020 and 2022 elections. The investigative initiative of the watchdog organization Campaign for Accountability conducted tests with various queries about voting in the Google search engine, such as "how to vote," "how to register to vote," "early voting," and "when is voting."
In previous elections, these searches often resulted in misleading ads that charged fees for registration or provided confusing and unhelpful information. Some ads directed users to websites that collected data for marketing and even installed "browser hijackers," interfering with users' search experiences.
During the evaluation conducted between October 1 and October 10, 2024, the researchers found none of the fraudulent ads that had been common in previous elections. Instead, they mostly found ads promoting legitimate voter education sites.
The analysis was conducted on a "clean" version of the Google Chrome browser, disconnected and with no prior browsing history. Additionally, virtual private networks were used to verify whether the results varied according to users' locations. In total, 198 ads were reviewed. Although Google did not respond to TTP's request for comment, a Google spokesperson stated that the company has strict policies to protect individuals from fraudulent and misleading information regarding voting processes.
TTP concluded in its publication that these findings suggest that Google has the capacity to remove fraudulent ads from its search results, preventing dishonest actors from exploiting voters during critical election periods.
