Google he said this week ban ads that promote stalkerware, spyware and other forms of surveillance that may be used to track third parties without their consent.
The change was announced this week as part of an upcoming update to Google Ads policies, which will take effect next month, from August 11, 2020.
Examples of products and services that can no longer be promoted by advertisers through Google Ads include:
- Spyware and the technology used to closely monitor partners, such as software that can be used to monitor texts, phone calls or browsing history.
- Commercially available GPS trackers specifically for spying or tracking someone without their consent.
- Promotion of commercially available surveillance equipment (cameras, sound recorders, cameras, baby cameras) for surveillance purposes.
Η Google δήλωσε ότι οι ιδιωτικές υπηρεσίες ερευνών ή τα προϊόντα που έχουν σχεδιαστεί για τους γονείς να παρακολουθούν ή τα ανήλικα παιδιά τους δεν θα απαγορεύονται βάσει αυτής της νέας πολιτικής και θα εξακολουθούν να επιτρέπεται η διαφήμισή τους στην platform her.
Offenders promoting stalkerware will receive a prenotice επτά ημερών, μετά την οποία θα έχουν προβλήματα εάν δεν καταργήσουν τις advertisements.
Google's crackdown on stalkerware ads comes after the antivirus industry decided to add detections for stalkerware products to virus scanners.
After improving their products, the anti-virus companies set up the "Coalition Against Stalkerware»In November 2019, as the first global initiative of its kind, to raise awareness of the growing threat of stalkerware.
For those unfamiliar with the term, stalkerware is a form of malware that is part of the larger category of spyware.
Stalkerware refers to applications spyware designed specifically for the surveillance of close friends, associates or loved ones without their knowledge or consent.
Its use stalkerware has increased over the last decade due to the proliferation of smartphones, as it allows jealous associates to constantly monitor other people's phones.
