Link: The ad companies making money off of obituary spam

Fake obituaries of ordinary individuals have flooded Google search results, gaining clicks and ad revenue through misinformation. A report by Check My Ads identifies ad exchanges profiting from these obituaries by connecting advertisers to the websites hosting them.

HausaNew.com.ng, spotlighted in the report, published numerous fake obituaries, including one for Harrison Sylver, a young man who tragically died by suicide. Sylver's mother uncovered numerous inaccuracies across similar sites, evidencing a widespread issue.

This website, among others, earns money by displaying digital ads, benefiting financially each time someone clicks on an ad or visits their pages. For instance, SarkariExam.com, another site noted for obituary spam, has profited despite hosting poorly written and incorrect obituaries.

Ad firm TripleLift responded to the findings by initiating an internal investigation and updating policies to exclude AI-generated obituary content. Meanwhile, Google has taken steps to reduce the visibility of such dishonest sites, although they continue to profit from them.

Google asserts it has taken action against sites violating publisher policies by removing their ads. The ongoing challenge highlights both the ethical concerns and regulatory gaps in online advertising.

This example underscores the importance of vigilance and regulation within digital advertising spaces to prevent exploitation and misinformation. #

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Yoooo, this is a quick note on a link that made me go, WTF? Find all past links here.