Google releases a transparency report (Image: Unsplash)
On Wednesday, 23, 100 days before the general elections, Google launched in Brazil the “Political Advertising Transparency Report”. The page was created to provide more transparency about the election ads shown across all company platforms. The tool collects real-time updated information about all ads purchased on Google, YouTube and partner sites.
According to the company, the report will include advertisements indicating political parties, candidates for federal office in Brazil and the current holders of these positions. It will also be possible to access information about companies or individuals who purchased election ads, as well as the amount paid. The page displays all ads that have been shown as well as those that have been removed for violating the tool’s policies.
In the event of a disapproved advertisement, the image or video will be replaced with a message stating that the content has been disapproved. The tool is already available in countries such as Australia, the United States, India, Israel, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan. The launch in Brazil is part of a Google initiative, in partnership with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), to display official election-related information and make the process more transparent.
This year YouTube launched a new electoral integrity policy responsible for removing content spreading false allegations of election fraud in 2018.
