Google has revealed that it blocked or removed over 5.1 billion harmful advertisements globally in 2024, thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) that have dramatically improved its capacity to combat online scams, fraud, and misinformation.
In its recently published 2024 Ads Safety Report, the tech company also disclosed that it restricted an additional 9.1 billion ads and suspended more than 39 million advertiser accounts—many of which were disabled before they had the chance to display a single ad.
According to Alex Rodriguez, General Manager for Ads Safety at Google, artificial intelligence now plays a vital role in detecting increasingly complex scams, impersonation attempts, and disinformation campaigns.
“These improvements allowed us to act faster, spot threats earlier, and intervene before bad actors could reach users,” Rodriguez noted. “That’s the true strength of AI—ensuring online safety in a proactive, not just reactive, way.”
Google’s move toward preventative action comes amid a global surge in online threats. Across Africa and other regions, users are increasingly exposed to fraudulent advertising content and digital manipulation, especially in politically sensitive contexts.
Nigeria was specifically cited as one of the countries where malicious ads were intercepted and removed before going live. Google flagged impersonation scams involving public figures and misleading election-related content as prevalent challenges within the country.
To tackle these threats, the company updated its Misrepresentation policy in 2024 and deployed a global task force of over 100 experts. As a result, more than 700,000 advertiser accounts linked to scam activities were disabled, leading to a 90% reduction in reported impersonation scams.
With nearly half of the world’s population participating in elections in 2024, Google also intensified its efforts to ensure political advertising transparency. It mandated identity verification for all political advertisers and required full disclosure of ad sponsors. Over 10 million election-related ads were subsequently removed for failing to comply with these standards.
While the statistics are global, their impact is acutely felt across Africa, where the digital economy is fast-growing and heavily reliant on user trust and online credibility.
By preventing fraudulent ads and tackling AI-generated misinformation, Google’s enforcement efforts play a pivotal role in protecting small businesses, digital content creators, and advertisers who depend on the platform to engage with audiences and drive revenue.
“In 2024 alone, we implemented more than 50 enhancements to our AI models,” Rodriguez added. “This enabled our teams to devote more resources to complex investigations, while automation handled large-scale threats.”
Beyond technology, Google stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration in safeguarding the digital space. The company reaffirmed its commitment to working with regulators, industry peers, and consumer protection bodies—such as through its ongoing partnership with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance—to anticipate and neutralise evolving threats.
The 2024 Ads Safety Report reflects more than just impressive figures; it highlights an industry-wide transformation in the way digital trust and user protection are maintained in an age of AI.
