Google is taking a firm stance against the rising tide of deepfake porn, announcing a significant update to its advertising policy that bans websites and apps involved in the generation and promotion of AI-manipulated explicit content. This new policy, effective May 30, 2024, aims to curb the spread of non-consensual and exploitative material created through deceptive means.

Under the revised Inappropriate Content Policy, advertisers promoting deepfake apps or websites will face immediate suspension without warning. This includes platforms offering instructions on creating, endorsing, or comparing various deepfake porn services. The consequence? Violators will be barred from publishing their ads on Google, effectively limiting their reach and potential for harm.

This action comes at a crucial juncture, as concerns escalate over the proliferation of tools enabling the creation of manipulated pornographic content. Some applications even masquerade as innocuous tools to gain entry into reputable platforms like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, while simultaneously promoting their deepfake capabilities on social media.

Building on Existing Efforts to Combat Deepfake Porn

This latest update builds upon Google’s existing efforts to combat explicit content in its advertising ecosystem. The company already maintains strict restrictions on ads featuring certain sexual content, and this new policy further reinforces their commitment to tackling the evolving challenges posed by AI-generated explicit material. The promotion of “synthetic content that has been altered or generated to be sexually explicit or contain nudity” constitutes a clear violation of Google’s rules, leaving no room for ambiguity.

Prior initiatives have included banning services that produce sexually explicit content from appearing in shopping ads, encompassing tutorials and pages advertising deepfake porn generators. Google has also granted advertisers a grace period to remove existing ads before the May 30th enforcement date, ensuring a smooth transition and compliance with the new policy.

By taking decisive action against deepfake pornography, Google demonstrates a commitment to user safety and responsible advertising practices. This move sets a strong precedent for other tech companies to follow, highlighting the need to address the potential harms of AI-generated explicit content and protect individuals from exploitation.