In a world where consumers are faced with more advertising than ever before, it can be difficult to know which ads are legitimate and whether they come from reputable organizations or just those with deep pockets.
Google estimates that 30 million people interact with its Ad Transparency and Control Menu every day, highlighting consumer awareness and a desire to learn more about the content they see.
The launch of the new Ads Transparency Center builds on that, according to the tech giant whose operations span countless platforms, by bringing together in one place all the information a consumer might need about a particular campaign or advertiser.
Google Ads Transparency Center
In the Ads Transparency Center, the user can view, among other things, previous ads served by a particular company, the regions where those ads were shown, and history, including the date of the last view.
Director of Ad Safety Product Management, Alejandro Borgia, explain (opens in a new tab) how a consumer might want to delve into an ad that stands out to them to learn more about brand authenticity and credibility.
This builds on other protective measures recently introduced by Google, such as requiring election ads to state who paid for the ad and that it is from a verified account.
While the Ad Transparency Center is directly accessible, most consumers will likely use the three-dot menu in a specific ad to see more information. From here you can also access likes, block and report ads.
Exact availability is unclear, however Borgia says Google will roll out the new hub globally in the coming weeks.