Posted May 18th, 2010 at 11:05AMLast Friday I received an e-mail from Google stating that my website was in violation of the terms of service for its AdSense advertising service. They flagged a post from five years ago, where I linked to an interview with the creator of “Real Dolls” and complained that a great deal of my site traffic was coming from search engine searches for said sex dolls (I had previously posted a link and excerpts from an article on them – they start at $5000, and apparently there’s a market. It had piqued my curiosity, what can I say?)
AdSense’s TOS restrict service to websites with “adult, mature, or pornographic” content. I’ve kept this in mind, but guess I focused on the key word of pornographic, as I tend to think of politics or even the weather as “adult” or “mature” topics – obviously there’s little sense in such a vague proscription. And my personal definition of pornography revolves around the express intent of getting off, which this website has never attempted to provide for anyone.
I requested a clarification on how exactly to bring my blog in line with their expectations – was their problem with the content, the linkage to the manufacturer’s site, or the long-broken image anchors? I received no response and my service was interrupted as promised three days after the initial notice.
It seems like Google allows itself to be the premier conduit for pornography the world over, but AdSense advertisers are expected to maintain a puritanical theme of fluffy bunnies and stork-delivered conception, suitable for the rug rat set whom Google’s advertising apparently targets.
I never made a dime with AdSense as this site never generated enough traffic to drum up the required threshold earnings (before they send your check), and I’ve only intermittently displayed ads in the first place. I might investigate alternative services, but for now it’s a low priority. Self-absorbed schizophrenic personal blogs have never been big money makers, after all.
So long, AdSense, it’s been nice sending you what limited traffic I could, for no compensation.
Expect a post soon about my Monticello track day. I had a blast and the car performed without fault.
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True. The 3 days notice without time to receive clarification seems very poor service on Google’s part.
It’s also a slippery-slope with “multi-purpose” household domestic robots on the horizon.
Considering Google Image Search has SafeSearch option (pron conduit, or unfiltered, unsensored search?) then it does seem high time that Google applied a similar rating standard to it’s adSense program. All it would need is an option in our adSense account to deactivate ads on questionable or explicit content pages, leaving ads on the main bulk of permissible content safely intact.
It’s good that they’re attempting to crack down on potential abuse, as we know anything to do with x-rated content does pay, but on this occasion, it does sound to be out of all proportion to any intentional breach of Google’s policy.
The word “flagged” should also be a warning that an automated process, rather than real people, are responsible for another poor decision.
*imagines a real-doll sitting at an automated-google-terminal going “Mwahahahaa!” (in a sexy voice) as it bans another adSense account*
LOL – Exactly Dredd, all around!
I received a rather dry response today that it was both the “link to the adult site” and “adult content” but I am still not entirely sure if humans ever actually proofed anything here. I wonder if hiring a Real Doll would qualify for a tax credit for hiring an unemployed worker? 
Good job! You didn’t need it anyways obviously. Also, many of your visitors might of had AdBlock installed on their computers anyways.
^Yup, adbloxed ma browser while getting it to work on google wave.
(btw, either of u guys want wave invite let me know)
Well at least we talk more freely about **SEX ON THE INTERWEBS!**
http://s4.hubimg.com/u/2019243_f520.jpg
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I already have Wave, Dredd. But, thanks for the offer! Unfortunately none of my close friends have Wave, and it doesn’t work on Android OS yet either. I don’t see how it’s going to take off.
Zeke, goto http://google.com/wave . Me and Dredd are over there talking about your site. Our conversation will popup when you go to the site. You don’t need to sign up.
Cool. I was expecting they’d open wave to the public in June, but they announced it open as of yesterday. (Google I/O announcement)
BBC’s Click program just covered Google’s 3-strikes copyright policy in action. Video blogger got 900 videos wiped, and details his experience trying to get them back again. **MUST SEE**
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8696716.stm
Wave does not seem very responsive at 26.4kpbs.
Gotta love that new Lifestream. Although, I don’t think Facebook is needed IMHO.
It’s not pulling the right info, I wanted my status updates only displayed. It’s either that or integrate them with twitter. You know I post to one or the other about once a month on average.
“Keep your friends updated on what you are doing this exact moment, every moment.”
http://quitfacebook.com/