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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Google temporarily bans addiction center ads globally following exposure of seedy referral deals [techcrunch.com]

Google is temporarily halting advertisements worldwide for addiction and rehabilitation centers, following a report last week [techcrunch.com] showing it was acting as a platform for shady referral services earning huge undisclosed commissions.

Essentially these ads, which commanded huge prices on Google's networks, would show for people seeking addiction treatment; the help lines and services listed would then refer the person to an addiction center. These centers were, unknown to their new patients, paying enormous finders fees to the referral services, on the order of tens of thousands of dollars.

The ads were already banned in the U.S., but were banned in the UK following a Sunday Times investigation. Google then extended that ban worldwide.

Also at The Verge [theverge.com].

Original Submission