Tech giant, Google, has revealed that it blocked or removed 5.1 billion harmful ads and restricted another 9.1 billion globally in 2024.
The company disclosed this in its 2024 Ads Safety Report released on Wednesday, showing how advanced artificial intelligence is transforming the fight against bad ads, scams, and misinformation online.
Google also suspended over 39 million advertiser accounts, many before a single ad was shown.
Google noted in the report that AI is becoming a critical line of defense against increasingly sophisticated scams, fake business identities, and coordinated misinformation campaigns online.
“These improvements helped us move faster, identify threats earlier, and take action before bad actors could reach users,” General Manager for Ads Safety at Google, said Alex Rodriguez.
“That’s the real power of AI—making the internet safer not just reactively, but proactively,” he added.
Google specifically cited Nigeria as one of the countries where fake ads were blocked before they were posted.
“In Nigeria, public figure impersonation scams and misleading election ads have become familiar threats,” it stated.
Though the figures are global, the effects are tangible for users and businesses across Africa.
Safe online advertising supports economic inclusion—protecting small businesses, digital creators, and publishers who rely on platforms like Google to reach audiences and generate income.
“We launched over 50 enhancements to our AI models in 2024. This allowed our teams to focus more on complex, high-impact investigations, while automation handled scale,” Rodriguez added.
Google emphasized that safeguarding the online ecosystem goes beyond technology.
The company said it would continue to work with regulators, consumer protection agencies, and industry peers, such as through the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, to anticipate and address emerging threats.
Ultimately, the 2024 Ads Safety Report reveals more than just numbers; it highlights a growing shift in how online trust is maintained.