Prohibited content
Want to make sure that your content is not violating AdSense policies? Check a detailed explanation and example of each of our content policies.
Click the link below to be directed to the article of your choice:
Adult contentContent that advocates against an individual, group or organisation
Copyrighted material
Recreational drugs and drug-related content
Alcohol and tobacco-related content
Healthcare-related content
Hacking and cracking content
Sites that offer compensation programmes ("pay-to" sites)
Sites that use Google Brand features
Violent content
Weapon-related content
Content that enables dishonest behaviour
Illegal content
If you've found a site violating the AdSense programme policies, please report it here.
Adult content
What's the policy?
The AdSense network is considered family-safe, which means that publishers aren't permitted to place Google ads on sites that contain pornography, adult or mature content. If your site contains content that you wouldn't feel comfortable viewing at work or with family members around, then it probably isn't an appropriate site for Google ads. Please note that we also don't allow AdSense for search (AFS) search boxes to be placed on adult content pages.
View detailed examples of adult content that violates AdSense programme policies.
Content that advocates against an individual, group or organisation
What's the policy?
Google believes strongly in freedom of expression, but also recognises the need to protect the quality of the AdSense network for users, advertisers and publishers.
Google ads aren't permitted on sites that contain harassing or bullying content, or on content that incites hatred or promotes violence against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status or sexual orientation/gender identity. Additionally, Google ads may not appear on content that incites or advocates harm against an individual or group.
However, websites containing educational, documentary, historical, scientific or artistic content related to such subjects are permitted to participate in AdSense.
Copyrighted material
What's the policy?
Google ads may not be displayed on websites with content protected by copyright law unless they have the necessary legal rights to display or direct traffic to that content. Some examples of copyrighted content might include mp3 and video files, television shows, software, comics and literary works.
When a website displays someone else's website within a frame or window on their own site, then this is considered framing content. Placing Google ads on such pages is strictly prohibited.
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Recreational drugs and drug-related content
What's the policy?
We want to help keep people safe both online and offline, so we don't allow the promotion of some products or services that cause damage, harm or injury. For this reason, Google prohibits ads on pages which sell or promote recreational drugs and drug-related content including:
- Promotion of substances that alter the mental state for the purpose of recreation or otherwise induce "highs". Examples:
- Cocaine, crystal meth, heroin, marijuana, cocaine substitutes, mephedrone, "legal highs"
- Products or services marketed as facilitating recreational drug use. Examples:
- Pipes, bongs, cannabis coffee shops
- Instructional content about producing, purchasing or using recreational drugs. Examples:
- Forums to exchange tips or recommendations on drug use
Please be aware that the promotion of prohibited content includes providing links to sites that do not follow our recreational drugs and drug-related content policies.
Alcohol and tobacco-related content
What's the policy?
Google prohibits ads on pages which promote certain alcohol and tobacco-related content including:
- Promotion of beer, spirits or liqueurs.
- Promotion of tobacco and tobacco-related products, including cigarettes, cigars, tobacco pipes and rolling paper.
Please be aware that the promotion of prohibited content includes providing links to sites that do not follow our alcohol and tobacco-related content policies. However, publishers are permitted to place ads on informational content relating to brewing or distilling beer, as well as content related to the topic of quitting smoking.
Healthcare-related content
What's the policy?
To comply with local laws and regulations related to the promotion of healthcare and medicines, Google prohibits ads on pages that contain certain healthcare-related content including:
- Online sale of prescription medication. Examples:
- Sales of prescription drugs, even if through an affiliate programme
- Online pharmacies
- Sites that primarily drive traffic to online drugstores/pharmacies
- Sale of unapproved pharmaceuticals and supplements. Examples:
- All items on this non-exhaustive list of prohibited pharmaceuticals and supplements (e.g. products that contain Ephedra)
- Herbal and dietary supplements with active pharmaceutical or dangerous ingredients
- Products with names that are confusingly similar to an unapproved pharmaceutical or supplement or controlled substance
Hacking and cracking content
What's the policy?
Placement of Google ads is not permitted on websites that promote any form of hacking or cracking. Hacking and cracking content is content that provides users with instructions or equipment that tampers with or provides illegal access to software, servers or websites.
Sites that offer compensation programmes ("pay-to" sites)
What's the policy?
The term "pay-to" refers to sites that promise payment or incentives to users who click on ads, surf the web, read emails or perform other similar tasks. Placing Google ads on such pages may result in invalid impressions or clicks and is therefore prohibited. Similarly, sites that primarily drive traffic to or discuss pay-to services are not permitted to show ads.
Sites that use Google Brand features
What's the policy?
The use of Google brand features such as logos, screenshots or other distinctive features in an abusive or deceptive manner, is not allowed.
Violent content
What's the policy?
Our programme policies don't allow Google ads to be placed on content that contains graphic or gory images such as bloodshed, fight scenes and gruesome or freak accidents. Publishers are responsible for every page on which their ad code appears and for screening any text, images, videos or other media which will appear on a page with Google ads.
Weapon-related content
What's the policy?
Google ads are not permitted to appear on sites that sell, facilitate or advocate the sales of weapons and weapon accessories. This includes but is not limited to the sales of ammunition, gun parts, hardware, pistols, rifles, BB guns, sporting guns, air guns, blow guns and stun guns. This policy also prohibits the placement of ads on sites that sell explosives, including fireworks.
Content that enables dishonest behaviour
What's the policy?
We value honesty and fairness, so we don't allow Google ads on pages with content that helps users to mislead others. Examples:
- Content that promotes creating fake or false documents such as passports, diplomas or accreditation;
- Content that promotes creation of fake or false identities;
- Sale or distribution of term papers, essay-writing or exam-taking services;
- Information or products for passing drug tests;
- Content that promotes fraudulent activity.
Illegal content
Google ads may not be placed on any site that contains content that is illegal, promotes illegal activity, or infringes on the legal rights of others.
Counterfeit Goods
AdSense publishers may not display Google ads on web pages that offer for sale or promote the sale of counterfeit goods. Counterfeit goods contain a trademark or logo that is identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the trademark of another. They mimic the brand features of the product in an attempt to pass themselves off as a genuine product of the brand owner.
Underage, non-consensual or illegal sex acts
Google AdSense absolutely prohibits monetisation of content related to child sexual abuse imagery or paedophilia. Google has always been at the forefront in the fight against online child abuse, and an avid supporter of family safety online.
Under United States federal law, child sexual abuse imagery is defined as visual depictions of minors (i.e. under 18) engaged in a sexual act such as intercourse, oral sex or masturbation as well as lascivious depictions of the genitals (covered or uncovered). This definition extends to photographs, videos, cartoons, drawings, paintings and sculptures. The image can involve a real child; a computer-generated, morphed, composite or otherwise altered image that appears to be a child (think “Photoshop”). This also includes soliciting minors for sexual acts, which is also known as "enticement".
Paedophilia is any content or behaviour (images, texts, videos, etc.) that depicts, encourages or promotes sexual attraction by adults towards minors (i.e. under 18).
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