Google suspended more than 39 million fraudulent ad accounts with AI

Google has released its 2024 Ads Safety Report, revealing an expansive and increasingly AI-driven effort to safeguard users and advertisers from online threats. The tech giant announced the suspension of over 39.2 million fraudulent advertising accounts, with the majority being identified and neutralized before they could launch any campaigns.

This milestone represents a significant advancement in Google’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the integrity of its advertising ecosystem. By leveraging its latest AI technology—specifically enhancements to its large language models (LLMs)—Google says it’s now able to detect and stop abuse faster, more precisely, and at a far greater scale than ever before.

AI-Powered Defense: A Smarter Approach to Threat Detection

Throughout 2024, Google implemented more than 50 improvements to its LLMs, significantly boosting their performance compared to previous machine learning models. These improvements allow the system to operate with minimal data input, increasing speed and efficiency in spotting patterns of malicious behavior, such as business impersonation and payment fraud.

According to Google, these upgraded models no longer rely on massive datasets to function. Instead, they can identify novel threats and differentiate between legitimate and fraudulent advertisers using just a fraction of the data previously required. This agility is particularly valuable in an evolving digital landscape, where scammers are constantly adapting their tactics.

One of the early warning signs the models now catch is illegitimate payment details and business impersonation, both of which are red flags for potentially harmful advertisers. Once identified, these accounts are permanently banned, and Google’s Advertiser Identity Verification tool ensures that they cannot re-enter the platform under new aliases.

Billions of Ads Blocked or Removed

In total, Google reports that it blocked or removed over 5.1 billion bad ads during 2024. These ads violated various policies, including those related to ad network abuse, misrepresentation, personalized ad misuse, and violations of legal standards.

Among the most concerning trends highlighted in the report is the rise in public figure impersonation. Increasingly, bad actors are deploying AI-generated images and audio to fake endorsements from celebrities or influencers, misleading users and promoting fraudulent products or services.

This impersonation tactic has also extended to platforms like YouTube, another Google-owned property, where scammers can mimic the voice or appearance of high-profile creators using generative AI tools. In response, Google has revised its misrepresentation policy and built a dedicated team of over 100 experts focused on combatting these specific kinds of fraud.

Thanks to this dedicated effort, Google claims it permanently suspended more than 700,000 advertiser accounts that promoted impersonation scams, resulting in a 90% decrease in user reports related to these deceptive practices.

Ads Under Restriction: Balancing Reach and Responsibility

In addition to blocking harmful content, Google also restricted the distribution of over 9.1 billion ads in 2024. These ads were not necessarily fraudulent, but they touched on content that could be culturally or legally sensitive in certain regions.

Restricted ads include topics like adult content, gambling, and political material, which Google allows under specific conditions but limits their reach based on local laws or societal norms. This nuanced approach helps ensure compliance and relevance while still enabling advertisers to operate within appropriate boundaries.

Looking Ahead: Transparency and Trust in the Ad Ecosystem

The 2024 Ads Safety Report illustrates how artificial intelligence is transforming online security, giving platforms like Google an edge against increasingly sophisticated digital threats. By blending automated tools with human expertise—especially in high-risk areas like public figure impersonation—Google continues to evolve its strategy to protect both users and businesses.

These measures not only help reduce harmful content but also strengthen trust in the digital advertising ecosystem at a time when misinformation, scams, and AI-generated fakes are on the rise.

As the advertising landscape becomes more complex, Google’s proactive enforcement and ongoing investment in AI signal a clear intent: to create a safer, more transparent online environment for everyone.