Google will ban fake news sites from its ad service

Alphabet Inc's Google is working to change their policy to prevent fake news websites from using its AdSense advertising network, the company told Reuters on Monday.

"Moving forward, we will restrict ad serving on pages that misrepresent, misstate, or conceal information about the publisher, the publisher's content, or the primary purpose of the web property," a Google spokesperson told the news agency. “This policy includes fake news sites, the spokesperson confirmed. Google already prevents its AdSense program from being used by sites that promote violent videos and imagery, pornography, and hate speech.”

A display of Google devices. Google said it would ban purveyors of fake news on the web from using its online advertising service, AdSense. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The decision comes after Google, Facebook, and Twitter continue to face scrutiny for the role they played in the US presidential election. Critics say that the false information peddled by President-elect Donald Trump may have helped him over the course of his campaign.

However, the company did not say whether they will work to rate the accuracy of the fake news articles or restrict how they display in searches.