Interesting reply from Google; Ban on saying Bush is a Fascist!

[benburch]

Well, I wrote to Google to ask exactly why they banned paid advertisements for http://www.WhiteRoseSociety.org/ and I received the following reply;


Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2004 11:46:21 -0800
From: AdWords Support <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: <#6118396> Your Google AdWords Approval Status
Message-id: <#[e-mail]>


Hello Ben,

Thank you for your email. I understand that you have questions about our
editorial policy.

At this time, Google policy does not permit the advertisement of websites
that contain language that advocates against an individual, group or
organization. As noted in our advertising terms and conditions, we reserve
the right to exercise editorial discretion when it comes to the
advertising we accept on our site. In order to make your site meet our
guidelines, I suggest removing all references advocating against George
Bush. For example, the picture of George Bush and the references to him as
a fascist.

Once you have made these changes, you may reply to this email and I will
be happy to review your website.

Please feel free to email us at [e-mail] if you have
additional questions or concerns.

We look forward to providing you with the most effective advertising
available.

Sincerely,

Kerry
The Google AdWords Team

Original Message Follows:
------------------------
From: Ben Burch <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Your Google AdWords Approval Status
Date: 07 Jan 2004 14:49:49 -0600

Dear folks,

I am having a hard time figuring out what you are referring to?

Please elaborate as I don't have a clue as to what to change.

Thanks!

-David B."Ben" Burch

On Wed, 2004-01-07 at 14:41, [e-mail] wrote:
> Hello David,
>
> Thank you for advertising with Google AdWords. After reviewing your
> account, I have found that one or more of your ads or keywords does not
> meet our guidelines. The results are outlined in the report below.
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> Campaign: 'Campaign #1,' Ad Group: 'White Rose Society Website'
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> AD TEXT:
>
> Liberal Talk Radio Lives
> Liberal/Progressive Talk Radio
> audio archives. 24/7, MP3 format
> www.WhiteRoseSociety.org
>
> Action taken: Suspended - Pending Revision
> Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
> ~~~~~~~~~
> AD TEXT:
>
> The Antidote to Rush
> Liberal/Progressive Talk Radio
> audio archives. 24/7, MP3 format
> www.WhiteRoseSociety.org
>
> Action taken: Suspended - Pending Revision
> Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
> ~~~~~~~~~
> SUGGESTIONS:
> -> Content: At this time, Google policy does not permit the
> advertisement of websites that contain "language that advocates against
> an individual, group or organization", "language that advocates against
> an individual, group or organization". As noted in our advertising
> terms and conditions, we reserve the right to exercise editorial
> discretion when it comes to the advertising we accept on our site.
>
>
> ---------------------
> Please read below for definitions of the issues I found:
>
> Unacceptable Content: Google believes strongly in freedom of expression
> and therefore offers broad access to content across the web without
> censoring search results. Please note that the decisions we make
> concerning advertising in no way affect the search results we deliver.
>
> ---------------------
>
> If a keyword has been disapproved, your ad(s) will no longer be
> displayed for searches on this keyword.
>
> If an ad has been suspended, please edit it based on our suggestions,
> and then save your changes to automatically resubmit the ad for review.
> We're confident that these changes will improve your ad performance and
> increase your return on investment.
>
> Our goal is to help you reach your target audience and maximize your
> investment. All ads are reviewed by AdWords Specialists to ensure that
> our advertisers create successful, high-impact advertising in keeping
> with our program's Editorial Guidelines.
>
> For more information about our ad requirements, please read the AdWords
> Editorial Guidelines at:
> https://adwords.google.com/select/guidelines.html
>
> Please feel free to email us at [e-mail] if you have
> any further questions or concerns. We look forward to providing you
> with the most effective advertising available.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> The Google AdWords Team
>
>
>


Obviously, they can go to hell as far as I am concerned.

-Ben

[el_gato]

1. but bush is a fascist

what's wrong with saying it

[Logansquare]

2. In all fairness to them,

I didn't find any Google ads referring to Bill Clinton as a communist when I did a search. I'm sure that there would be if they allowed it!

[Military Brat]

3. Now you have an opportunity to point out conflicts in their policy

If you see something which violates the rules they have set out in their e-mail response to you, tell them, and include a copy of their policy.

According to Mussolini, bush is a fascist.

[Walt Starr]

4. Google the following

<any candidate's name> fascist

Interesting results.

[kixot]

5. fugg'em

n/t

[BeFree]

6. Kinda off the subject... but

Question:
If any advertisement was untruthful, yet a place takes the $$ for it... wouldn't that be grounds for a civil suit? The grounds being that if the press is going to be selective (read: not freely open to any advertiser) then the press has a certain responsibility to make sure that their whole product is the absolute truth? Afterall, what good is the press if the press is not absolutely truthful? If they are going to judge you and not take your business, then they open themselves up to a judgement.

Seems if someone could take one of the fourth estate members to court over misleading articles then the press would be forced back into doing the job as good as they possibly can, or get sued.

A way to take back the media?