Documentation
Get answers on prohibited content, high-risk verticals, and compliance requirements in the ad:personam advertiser policy to help prevent account suspension.
This FAQ explains the advertiser policy used on ad:personam and answers the most common compliance questions. Use it to avoid creative rejection and reduce account risk.
What content is universally prohibited? Prohibited content includes:
- Illegal activity and content that enables criminal behavior
- Hate speech, harassment, and exploitative content
- Pornography, explicit sexual material, and graphic violence
- Weapons, illegal drugs, and related paraphernalia
- Malware, spyware, and deceptive software behavior
- Piracy, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property abuse
- Misleading claims, impersonation, and manipulative ad flows
- Incentivized clicks/downloads and invalid traffic tactics
- Broken or low-quality landing pages
Is violent content allowed? No. Content that depicts, promotes, or glorifies violence is prohibited, especially graphic or shock-style material.
Can we advertise weapons-related products? No. Ads for weapons, ammunition, weapon accessories, or content that helps users acquire or build weapons are not allowed.
Can we run political advertising? Political advertising is prohibited in the EU and EEA. Outside those regions, political campaigns may be considered only under strict verification and legal compliance requirements.
Is gambling content allowed? Gambling may be allowed only as a restricted category with prior approval, lawful licensing, and regional compliance controls.
What does a restricted-category approval usually require? Most restricted categories require:
- Legal documentation and applicable licenses
- Age and geography controls
- Clear disclosures in ads and landing pages
- Ongoing ability to prove compliance if requested
What are the main high-risk verticals? The most frequently flagged high-risk verticals are:
- Rewarded/Incentivized Apps
- Sweepstakes/Lead-Gen
- Medicare/Finance
Why are Rewarded/Incentivized Apps high risk? Campaigns that offer points, cash, or rewards for clicks, installs, or similar actions are treated as non-organic traffic and traffic manipulation.
Why are Sweepstakes/Lead-Gen offers high risk? Gift card entry offers and sweepstakes funnels are frequently flagged for misleading claims or problematic data-collection practices. Direct brand ownership is often required to reduce fraud risk.
Why are Medicare/Finance campaigns high risk? These fall into sensitive, highly regulated sectors. Without the necessary certifications and strong compliance documentation, campaigns are typically restricted or rejected.
What is considered deceptive content? Deceptive content includes misleading claims, fake urgency, impersonation, disguised ad interactions, or landing pages that materially differ from reviewed creatives.
What happens if we violate the advertiser policy? Policy breaches can trigger immediate enforcement. Depending on severity, this may include creative rejection, campaign suspension, account-level restrictions, or immediate account suspension.
How can we reduce suspension risk? Use truthful ad claims, compliant data-collection flows, legally required disclosures, and landing pages that match your creative. When in doubt, request a compliance review before scaling spend.