Anti-Iran Google Ads Resurface Following the Restoration of Internet Access in Iran
WANA (Feb 09) – Following the restoration of international internet access in Iran after the events of January 8, signs have emerged of a renewed organized anti-Iran advertising campaign across several foreign platforms and applications. These targeted political advertisements continue to be displayed to users inside Iran despite their clear contradiction with Google’s own advertising policies.
According to reports shared by users, a new wave of politically driven ads has become active across foreign websites and mobile applications through Google Ads. Reviews of the content suggest that these advertisements are designed as part of psychological operations, aiming to incite unrest, encourage social instability, and exert psychological pressure against Iran.
Anti-Iran Google Ads Resurface Following the Restoration of Internet Access in Iran. Social media / WANA News Agency
This is not the first time Google’s advertising tools have been used in such a context. During the previous 12-day conflict, similar advertisements were reported across various applications. Informed sources at the time stated that these campaigns were designed to recruit individuals for intelligence and security-related activities.
During that period, Fatemeh Mohajerani, the Iranian government’s spokesperson, warned that a number of individuals who later became involved in espionage networks had been identified and lured through targeted advertisements displayed on these platforms.
What makes the current case particularly notable is the clear contradiction between Google’s actions and its stated advertising policies. Under official Google Ads regulations, any advertisement containing false, misleading, or incomplete information falls under “Misrepresentation” and is prohibited. In addition, activities intended to deceive users or circumvent platform policies are categorized as “Coordinated Deceptive Practices”, which are explicitly banned.
Despite these clear guidelines, the continued display of political and anti-Iran advertisements to users inside Iran has raised serious concerns about selective and inconsistent enforcement of rules by international platforms. The situation has once again sparked broader questions about the real commitment of major technology companies to neutrality, transparency, and accountability regarding the political and security consequences of their services.
How Telegram Aids Street Unrest in Iran
WANA (Jan 01) – During the recent days’ gatherings in Iran, Persian-speaking Telegram users have encountered a strange phenomenon: the widespread display of advertisements in official and news channels whose content directly calls for unrest, street mobilization, and the dissemination of edited clips from protests. This development reveals complex layers of a media war. […]
