When Google disapproves ads for hacked political materials
Direct answerGoogle does not allow ads that directly facilitate or advertise access to hacked material related to political entities covered by its election-ads policies. The hacked political materials rule covers protected material taken through unauthorized access to a computer, network, or personal device, even when a third party is the one distributing it. Commentary is allowed when neither the ad nor the landing page provides that access. A warning is issued at least 7 days before suspension.
What the policy names
Policy: ads may not directly facilitate or advertise access to hacked material related to political entities within the scope of Google’s election ads policies. That includes all protected material obtained through unauthorized intrusion or access, even if someone else distributes it.
Google’s examples of advertising that access include lines such as “See all of the leaked emails right now” and “The President’s text messages were hacked! Access them now!” Examples of linking to the material include “View our database of hacked documents from the President’s campaign” and “Foreign agents hacked into his computer, take a look at the real documents.” This article does not explain how to obtain those files.
The same page allows discussion or commentary when the ad or landing page does not provide or facilitate direct access. Interpretation: a headline about a published investigation is not the same asset as a button that opens the stolen archive. If the landing page hosts the files, the commentary sentence does not save the ad.
Labels that look similar
- Running an election ad in the United States is election-ads verification. The European Union restriction is separate. Neither one is permission to distribute hacked materials.
- Using someone else’s film, book, or stream without a license is copyright. Hacked political materials can overlap a copyright complaint, but this policy is the unauthorized-access rule.
- Hiding who is behind political content, or misstating the country of origin, is coordinated deceptive practices, which suspends the account with no warning. This hacked-materials page warns at least 7 days.
How to fix a disapproval
- Remove the files, the download, and any line that offers access, from both the ad and the landing page.
- Keep commentary only if the destination no longer provides or facilitates that access.
- Edit the ad and save. Re-review typically takes 24–48 hours. Appeal if the ad discusses the story and neither the ad nor the page offers the material.
Sources
Reviewed October 7, 2026. Policies change. This is not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Can a news ad discuss a leak without linking to the files?
Google says discussion or commentary is allowed if the ad and the landing page do not provide or facilitate direct access to the hacked materials. An ad that tells people to view the database, or a page that hosts the files, is the named ban.
Does it matter that a third party published the files?
No. The policy applies to protected material obtained through unauthorized intrusion or access of a computer, network, or personal electronic device, even if a third party distributes it.
Is this the election-ads certificate?
No. Election-ads verification is whether you may run political ads in a country. This label is about offering access to hacked material related to political entities in scope of those election-ads policies. A certified political advertiser can still be disapproved for the access.
Check whether the ad is offering the files
LaunchGuarding can scan ad copy for a claim that leaked or hacked political files are available. It does not decide whether a news page is commentary.