Google to take legal action against rogue pharmacies

[noaccount]

We work very hard to make sure that ads shown on Google provide useful information for our users. But sometimes we need to take action against ads that violate our policies, as when we block malware ads, or when we filed suit last year against “Google Money” scammers. This is especially true when it comes to advertising for products such as pharmaceuticals, which can be dangerous without the right prescription.

Like many online services, we have struggled with this problem for years. It’s been an ongoing, escalating cat-and-mouse game—as we and others build new safeguards and guidelines, rogue online pharmacies always try new tactics to get around those protections and illegally sell drugs on the web. In recent years, we have noticed a marked increase in the number of rogue pharmacies, as well an increasing sophistication in their methods. This has meant that despite our best efforts—from extensive verification procedures, to automated keyword blocking, to changing our ads policies—a small percentage of pharma ads from these rogue companies is still appearing on Google.

So this morning we filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against advertisers we believe have deliberately broken our rules. Litigation of this kind should act as a serious deterrent to anyone thinking about circumventing our policies to advertise illegally on Google. As we identify additional bad actors, we will add them to the lawsuit. Rogue pharmacies are bad for our users, for legitimate online pharmacies and for the entire e-commerce industry—so we are going to keep investing time and money to stop these kinds of harmful practices.

Posted by Michael Zwibelman, Litigation Counsel

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/MKuf/~3/w8Oh6pwyGF8/taking-rogue-pharmacies-to-court.html

[JayCub]

Thanks noaccount, never came across online Pharmacies before as there would be no market here for them.. sounds really serious especially if you depend on certain medications and they are bogus, here it is really strict, pharmacies and Doctor's would loose their license.. i would not like to see this available to people here..

[noaccount]

I am interpreting this as legal offensive against Canadian Pharmacy, affiliates or other know spam bots that targets email... can't say much about malvertising but i'm aware of this reallity.

[Ande]

Some medicines cose less in Canada than in the US. Also some people want to get medicines without seeing a doctor and getting a script.
If there were some way to differentiate the two. But there really isn't as long as Canadian pharmacies ship without scripts.