Content Policies for Google Search

Name of code

Content Policies for Google Search

Originator of code

Google Search

Country

International

Original language

English

Year of creation

N/A

Type of code

Media users

Main frame of accountability

Market

Transparency

Public

Legal and regulatory context

Mandatory (Digital Services Act)

Implementation and enforcement

Procedural

Diversity

Yes

AI/automation

Yes

Abstract

This document comprises the Content Policies for Google Search, an international search console by the US company Google. With over 45 million users in the EU, Google Search is designated as a very large online platform (VLOPS) by the European Commission and must comply with the strictest rules of the Digital Service Act (DSA). For instance, systematic risks such as illegal content, public safety and health, protection of minors and fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, media freedom and pluralism, discrimination and consumer protection must be taken into account by the platform. The Code applies to all content surfaced anywhere within Google Search and includes overall content policies for Google Search, search features policies and feature-specific policies. Content that goes against Google’s content policies may get removed, and sites with a high volume of policy content violations might get demoted.

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