Google Bans Ads from Essay-Writing Services

  • By Paul McCloskey
  • 05/30/07
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Google said it would ban advertisements for essay-writing services in an effort to help cut down on campus plagiarism. As part of the ban, Google will not accept ads from companies that sell essays, theses, and dissertations.

In the announcement, Google said it would "disallow ad texts and sites that promote academic paper-writing services and the sale of pre-written essays, theses and dissertations." Google said that the ban would be applicable across the global Google network.

The ban follows criticism from the academic community that Google was encouraging students to engage in plagiarism.

The change of policy means that services such as the essay-writing services will not be found under "sponsored links" on Google pages, or on any other sites that are part of the Google network.

The move is controversial, as are many Google announcements. In a random scan of tech blogs, there was no shortage of pros and cons:

"For the first time in a while, Google's demonstrated a commitment to their 'do no evil' statement," said VinceVinceVince on Webmasterworld.com. "Don't forget, this isn't a victimless crime, it's something which hurts every single person who has gone through their education without cheating."

But Jecasc, on the same site, expressed the views of many by writing, "So what's next? Banning ads for Harry Potter books on request of radical evangelicals?"

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About the Author

Paul McCloskey is contributing editor of Syllabus.

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