Google announced it will be updating its Shopping Ads political content policy on April 16, 2026. Google said the update is to "implement additional restrictions on some political content."
Several countries are impacted, including the United States. This policy update will only apply to Shopping ads. Merchants running Shopping ads featuring some political content in the following countries will require merchants to verify their Google Ads account as an election advertiser:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Chile
- Israel
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United States
Google said it will also prohibit some Shopping Ads featuring political content in India.
You can find the updated policy language here explaining which types of content will require election ads verification. You can apply for election ads verification here.
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