Google has announced a new legal requirement policy that prohibits the display of search ads related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to the policy, entities and persons who are barred from creating or using a Google Ads account, or having Google Ads run on their behalf, cannot be situated in or reside in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) or Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) (LNR). Shopping Ads are also being blocked by Google Merchant Center from Russian Federation state-funded media.
These are disputed territories in Donbas, according to Wikipedia. Ukraine's central government considers the republics to be under terrorist control. Following an unauthorized status vote in May 2014, both declared independence from Ukraine. Both self-proclaimed states combined shortly after to establish the Novorossiya Confederation, which was suspended a year later. South Ossetia, a similar breakaway separatist republic, recognized both republics' independence in 2014. The Russian Federation recognized the two republics as separate states on February 21, 2022.
Google made a statement "In order to comply with the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Google Ads Legal Requirements policy has been updated to reflect the addition of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) to the list of embargoed countries or territories (OFAC). This change takes effect right now."
The whole requirement is as follows:
Advertisers must abide by all relevant sanctions and export rules, including those imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), and agree not to induce Google to do so. You are not permitted to use Ads on behalf of or for prohibited organizations or people. You are not permitted to use Ads on behalf of or for businesses or persons based in sanctioned countries or territories.
Furthermore, Ads are not available to any businesses or persons that are subject to trade restrictions or export compliance regulations. It is also not available to entities or individuals who are owned or controlled by such restricted entities or individuals, or who act for or on their behalf.
Advertisement campaigns run by or on behalf of organizations or individuals who are subject to trade restrictions and regulations.
Note that Google must abide by OFAC's sanctions. Restricted entities and individuals cannot register or use a Google Ads account, nor can Google Ads be utilized on their behalf. People who live or work in embargoed countries or territories are unable to establish or use a Google Ads account. Crimea, Cuba, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), Iran, North Korea, and Syria are currently embargoed.
"Effective immediately, owing to an ongoing sensitive issue (the crisis in Ukraine), we are halting ads from and for Russian Federation state-funded media," Google announced in the Google Merchant Center announcements area.
Following are some connected stories:
Google says it is barring Russian state-funded media from using its ad technology to generate revenue on their own websites, apps, and YouTube videos (@peard33 / Reuters)https://t.co/TzF3CqBs3xhttps://t.co/O4iXILGrTw
— Techmeme (@Techmeme) February 27, 2022
