Comments on: Google AdWords Served on Orkut Terror & Jihad Groups

By: Loren Baker, Editor

Loren Baker, Editor — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:59:35 +0000

No, not sure why he posted that comment, no one went after anyone.

Hopefully, someone goes after the AdWords ads on these groups and replaces them with PSA’s or something other than eBay and AbeBooks sponsorships.

By: Free Popup Creator

Free Popup Creator — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:22:32 +0000

Why did the first commentator say that Google went after you? Your Google ads are showing…did they shut them down temporarily?

By: Loren Baker, Editor

Loren Baker, Editor — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 21:40:09 +0000

I know that these are the ads for paid advertisers, but I do not know if Google is charging those advertisers for the clicks coming from these questionable sites.

Of course I noticed the Google information for Advertising on the AdWords contextual ads on the bottom of the Orkut pages, but I am not going to claim that these advertisers are paying for clicks and then Google release a statement that they are not charging advertisers for clicks from these groups.

So Darnell, I did not miss the ball on this, I’m just trying to walk the line that if Google does not charge for these clicks due to the content of the Orkut groups, there is still a negative branding associated with the display of these ads.

And thank you for introducing me to your blog, as I have been interested in Orkut and somewhat obsessed with its appeal to Brazil for years :)

By: Darnell Clayton

Darnell Clayton — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 19:18:06 +0000

Loren, you are many months late on this.

This news was broken by USA Today many moons ago, and even before that earlier this year I discovered these groups.

I have seen similar groups reported (to Google) and stay up, but it seemed the only reason was that they provide an excellent source of intelligence for the CIA and FBI (as they do watch blogs, social networks for these kind of things).

And this paragraph of yours…

—-
I have no proof that these advertisers are paying Google for the clicks from these ads, but I cannot imagine the negative brand reputation which could result in the â€˜Sponsorshipâ€ of Orkut groups such as Al Qaida, Hizbollah and JihadNet.
—-
…I don’t get. What proof do I have that the advertisers are paying you for clicks/to be seen, etc.? Unless I could look into your bank account to verify this, I would never be certain of the fact. That is unless I read the “Advertise on this site” link under you Google Ads and connected the dots.

If you had only looked at the “Advertise with us” link at the bottom of your Orkut screen, you might have connected the dots on this one.

Sad to see such a great blogger simply miss the ball on this one.

By: Loren Baker, Editor

Loren Baker, Editor — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 06:20:07 +0000

Thank you for your concern but no one from Google has ‘come after me’, on the contrary, from what I hear, there is interest & concern in the company of cleaning up these groups.

Hopefully some sort of public demand will speed up this action, and help to clean up the form of advertisements served in the Orkut community and the theme of the groups which these advertisements are served upon.

By: diddy1

diddy1 — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 04:42:36 +0000

It’s a shame that google went after you instead of the groups. Somebody should be calling bush right about now. Not to mention the mothers and fathers of sons who have been killed by these groups.

Thank You