Google and Facebook pledge to warn consumers against misleading advertising

Google, Facebook, AOL and Twitter have jointly launched a campaign in which the companies want to warn internet users about misleading and dangerous advertisements. The companies also promise to warn consumers about current dangers in good time.

The American internet companies say they want to inform and protect consumers about the potential dangers of unscrupulous advertisers via the TrustInAds.org website. In addition, Google, Facebook, AOL and Twitter, all four companies that depend on advertisers for their revenue, want to discover patterns in the placement of malicious advertisements. In this way, consumers could be warned about scams in good time.

Via TrustInAds, the participating companies have released an initial report in which consumers are made aware of the potential dangers of malicious advertisements. For example, Google and Facebook employees report that internet users in the US are being lured to expensive 0900 lines for technical support. About 4,000 accounts of “advertisers” referring to approximately 2,400 fake tech sites have been blocked, according to the companies. Criminals also try to install keyloggers and other malware through online advertisements.