google political ads

VERIFY: Yes, Google Ads are used by political campaigns to push positive headlines

PoliticAl campaigns in Virginia are spending millions on Google ads in the lead up to the election.

Both Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin campaigns are using Google ads to reach voters where they're at.

PoliticAl campaigns can pay to have their Google ads higher on the list and they choose how that ad will show up.

Glenn Youngkin's campaign has spent over $800,000 on Google ads, while Terry McAuliffe has spent over $3.4 million.

The McAuliffe campaign has been linking to mainstream news articles, while the Youngkin campaign has been using negative ads.

Linking to a news article with a different Google headline is legal, but it could be misleading.

PoliticAl ads are easy to spot on Google with the word ad in bold letters and a line saying exactly who is paying for the ad.

Report: Google's algorithm controls which political ads make it to your inbox

How Google's Algorithm Affects Political Emails

There are growing concerns about how social media platforms promote certain candidates, and now a new study from The Markup shows that Gmail's algorithm is affecting political emails. Roughly 11% of political emails are delivered to Gmail users' inboxes, while almost 50% are sorted into the promotions tab and the remaining 40% are sent to spam. The article titled Swinging the Boat explores Google's algorithm and its effect on political emails.

Investigation:

The investigation was launched after political advocacy groups noticed a drop-off in how many users were reading their emails, specifically Gmail subscribers. Some groups have 50% of their list on Gmail, so this was a big concern for them. The Markup analyzed email data from over 200 political mailing lists, including candidates, House races, and advocacy groups from across the spectrum. They found that Pete Buttigieg leads the current Democratic candidates in having his campaign emails actually get through to Gmail users' primary inboxes.

Algorithmic Hurdles:

There is nothing nefarious about Gmail's algorithm categorizing emails. It is another algorithmic hurdle that people who want to talk to their supporters through platforms such as social media or email have to go through. The inbox is increasingly curated by algorithms, especially with Gmail, which is the market leader in email. Gmail categorizes emails based on the content of the email and other factors like how other users interacted with the email.

Implications:

Gmail's algorithm can have a big impact on the amount of money a candidate can raise and reduced petition signatures for advocacy groups. It also means it's harder to get people to come out to events and communicate with supporters in general. Presidential candidates are the least concerned about this as they have well-resourced email operations to figure out what Gmail wants from them. However, smaller organizations and advocacy groups are more concerned about being placed in the promotions folder, which is for commercial email and not for political causes.

The investigation into Gmail's algorithm and its effect on political emails highlights the increasing role of algorithms in our lives. While there is nothing nefarious about algorithms, it does mean that we need to pay attention to how they curate our information and the impact it has on political campaigns and advocacy groups.

Google joins Twitter in limiting political advertising

In today's news feed, Google is taking action against political advertising, joining Twitter in banning micro-targeting based on political beliefs. Joe Biden is at the center of controversy, with President Trump's reelection ad campaign on YouTube being criticized by Biden's campaign for containing false claims about his role in Ukraine policy. Apple's first film, The Banker, has been pulled from its premiere due to concerns about abuse allegations against one of the film's co-producers. President Trump's notes while speaking to the media have been mocked online, and people have been leaving negative reviews for hotels run by US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sundlun. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, protests continue into their sixth month, with some students refusing to leave a university campus. Afghanistan sees a potential step towards peace as the government and Taliban swap prisoners. Finally, Myanmar is being sued by 57 nations for accusations of genocide against the Rohingya.

Google, Snapchat update political ad policies ahead of 2020 election

More social media companies, including Google and Snapchat, have announced their plans to deal with political ads on their platforms in light of criticism faced by Facebook. Google has limited political targeting and prohibited the use of email lists, while Snapchat plans to fact-check political ads. Twitter has banned political ads altogether but has since made exceptions. These changes are partly to separate themselves from Facebook, but also align with their values. However, Facebook has shown no signs of revising its policy, and its stance on free speech is at odds with others. Social media companies are under regulatory scrutiny and looking to prevent foreign influence online. The biggest change leading up to the election is expected to be the targeting of ads and the policing of misinformation.

How a Political Ad Evolves as It Moves Around America | WSJ

Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump are two of the most popular political figures in the United States. Both have used political advertisements to sway voters in their favor. While some ads are tailored to specific markets, others remain unchanged. In this article, we explore the evolution of political ads throughout the campaign cycle.

Main Body:

- Not all campaigns have different versions of the same ad

- Repackaging ads saves money

- Local ads are effective

- Sanders and Klobuchar made the most changes to their ads

- Changes in ads reflect the locality of where they are aired

- Biden catered to the local market in South Carolina

- Facebook versions of ads have small tweaks

- YouTube ads have subtle differences

- Sophisticated political campaign companies vow to use their resources for the Democratic presidential nominee

Political ads play a crucial role in swaying voters. While some campaigns opt for repackaging ads to save money, others tailor their ads to local markets. The effectiveness of political ads lies in their ability to reflect the data and preferences of voters. With the evolution of digital advertising techniques, political campaigns continue to explore new ways to reach and engage voters.

Google's ad business targeted by GOP-led bill

Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Target Google's Advertising Business

- Lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate to target Google's advertising business, which has been a controversial issue for years.

- The bill aims to amend antitrust laws by inserting new language into the Clayton Act of 1914 to eliminate conflicts of interest.

- Google's advertising business is a significant revenue driver for Alphabet, reporting 54.7 billion in advertising revenue in Q1 2021.

Why is Google's advertising business being targeted?

- Lawmakers want to address conflicts of interest in the digital advertising industry.

- Google's vertical integration of its advertising business allows it to participate in all sides of the transaction, from software and services to buying and selling ads.

- This integration has enabled Google to cement its duopoly with Meta platforms and control the entire ecosystem, which has raised concerns about privacy and data protection.

What is the impact of the legislation?

- The bill would affect any company with over 20 billion in transactions in the digital advertising space.

- If passed, the legislation would be a significant change for antitrust law, and it could also affect Facebook and Meta platforms depending on ad revenues.

- Google argues that vertical integration is beneficial for consumers and users as it protects privacy and data.

Other countries' efforts to regulate digital advertising:

- Europe has passed measures targeting big tech, and Australia's regulators estimate that over 90% of ad impressions in the ad tech supply chain passed through at least one Google service in 2020.

- These efforts highlight the global concern over the control that big tech companies like Google and Meta platforms have over the digital advertising industry.

- Lawmakers are taking steps to address conflicts of interest in the digital advertising industry by introducing legislation that would affect companies like Google.

- The legislation could be a significant change for antitrust law and impact other big tech companies depending on ad revenues.

- The global concern over big tech's control over the digital advertising industry is prompting regulators in other countries to take similar steps.