Google has revealed a major shift in how it protects internet users, saying its artificial intelligence systems now stop most harmful adverts before they ever reach the public, a move expected to strengthen trust in Nigeria’s fast-growing digital economy.
In its newly released 2025 Ads Safety Report, the tech giant said more than 99 percent of policy-violating ads were blocked before being seen by users. The report highlights how advanced AI tools, powered by its Gemini technology, are now at the centre of efforts to tackle online scams and deceptive content.
The development comes at a time when digital fraud is becoming more complex in Nigeria, with scammers increasingly using artificial intelligence to create convincing fake ads and impersonations.Google said it removed over 602 million scam-related ads in 2025 and suspended more than four million accounts linked to fraudulent activity.
The company explained that its AI systems now go beyond keyword detection to understand the intent behind advertisements, helping it catch scams designed to bypass traditional filters.
For Nigeria’s small businesses, which rely heavily on online advertising to reach customers, the company said improvements in AI accuracy are reducing the risk of wrongful account suspensions. According to the report, enforcement precision improved by 80 per cent, allowing legitimate advertisers to operate without disruption while targeting bad actors more effectively.
The company also disclosed that it is increasingly using AI to fight AI-driven threats. By analysing hundreds of billions of signals, including account behaviour and activity patterns, its systems can detect and block harmful ads in less than a second.
To further tighten security, Google has introduced stricter identity verification measures for advertisers, including selfie checks and immediate suspension for those who submit false information.
This is aimed at ensuring that advertisers targeting Nigerian users are authentic and traceable.User participation is also playing a bigger role. Google said its systems now respond four times faster to reports from users, allowing harmful ads to be reviewed and removed more quickly.
Overall, the report shows the scale of enforcement. In 2025 alone, Google blocked or removed more than 8.3 billion ads, suspended nearly 25 million advertiser accounts, and restricted over 480 million web pages. The company also made 35 policy updates to keep pace with emerging threats.
The latest figures suggest that while online risks are evolving, AI-driven moderation is becoming a critical line of defence, particularly in markets like Nigeria where digital platforms are central to business growth and access to information.
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