Google Will Block Election Ads After Polls Close, Following Other Social Media Companies

Topline

Google will block election ads after polls close on Election Day, the company said Friday, as tech and social media companies have been facing growing pressure to stop carrying ads that spread false information and could sway election results.

An election worker removes vote-by-mail ballots on August 3, 2020.

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Key Facts

Google reportedly said in an email to advertisers that it will not be able to run ads “referencing candidates, the election, or its outcome, given that an unprecedented amount of votes will be counted after election day this year,” likely referring to the expected increase in mail-in voting because of the pandemic.

The ban will target explicitly election-related ads, which Google defines as any ad that mentions a state or federal office-holder or candidate, political party or ballot measure.

It will also include any ads that reference federal or state elections or run based on targeting election-related searches, including on candidates or officeholders, the email said.

A source familiar with the policy told Axios, which first reported the news and said it obtained a copy of the email, the company will consider a number of different factors before lifting the ban, including how long it takes for all the ballots to be counted and if there are major protests following the outcome.

Tangent

Facebook recently said it would stop accepting new political ads in the week before the election and would reject ads that seek to claim victory before the results are declare, according to Fast Company.

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