Google disables AdSense on AfricaHunting.com for violent or disturbing content

As from the middle of December 2012 Google stops serving ads on AH... Hard to believe! It all started with this picture and a warning message from Google AdSense middle of November 2012:



Violation explanation as follow: VIOLENCE/GORE: As stated in our program policies, AdSense publishers are not permitted to place Google ads on pages with violent or disturbing content, including sites with gory text or images.

Subject: Google AdSense: You have 3 working days to make changes to your site

Hello,
This is a warning message to alert you that there is action required to bring your AdSense account into compliance with our AdSense program policies. We've provided additional details below, along with the actions to be taken on your part.

Issue ID#: ---

Affected website: africahunting.com

Example page where violation occurred: Warthog - Hunting, Bowhunting, Fishing, Photos and Videos

Action required: Please make changes to your site within 72 hours.

Current account status: Active

Violation explanation

VIOLENCE/GORE: As stated in our program policies, AdSense publishers are not permitted to place Google ads on pages with violent or disturbing content, including sites with gory text or images. More information about this policy can be found in our help center ( https://www.google.com/adsense/suppo...&answer=105954 ).

How to resolve:
If you received a notification in regard to page content, please either remove the content from your site or remove ads from the violating pages. If you received a notification in regards to the way ads are implemented on your site, please make the necessary changes to your implementation. We will automatically review the site again after 72 hours. You do not need to contact us if you make changes. Please be aware that if changes are not made within the required time frame, ad serving will be disabled to the affected website listed above.

Additionally, please be aware that the URL above is just an example and that the same violations may exist on other pages of this website or other sites that you own. To reduce the likelihood of future warnings from us, we suggest that you review all your sites for compliance. For more information regarding our policy warning notifications, visit our Help Center: https://support.google.com/adsense/b...8153&ctx=topic.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Subject: Google AdSense ad serving has been disabled to your site

Hello,
This message is to alert you that one of your websites is not currently in compliance with our AdSense program policies and as a result, ad serving has been disabled to your website.

Issue ID#: ---

Ad serving has been disabled to: africahunting.com

Example page where violation occurred: Warthog - Hunting, Bowhunting, Fishing, Photos and Videos

Action required: Check all other remaining sites in your account for compliance.

Current account status: Active

Violation explanation

VIOLENCE/GORE: As stated in our program policies, AdSense publishers are not permitted to place Google ads on pages with violent or disturbing content, including sites with gory text or images. More information about this policy can be found in our help center ( https://www.google.com/adsense/suppo...&answer=105954 ).

Action required: Check account for compliance
While ad serving has been disabled to the above site, your AdSense account remains active. Please be aware that the URL above is just an example and that the same violations may exist on other pages of this website or other sites you own. Therefore, we suggest that you take the time to review the rest of your sites to ensure that they're in compliance with our policies, and to monitor your sites accordingly to reduce the likelihood of future policy emails from us. Additionally, please note that our team reserves the right to disable accounts at any time if we continue to see violations occurring.

Appeals
If you wish to appeal this disabling then you can do so by using the Issue ID listed above to contact us via our Help Center: https://support.google.com/.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Subject: Re: Policy Violation Appeal

Hello,

Thanks for contacting Google AdSense. This an automated reply to let you know that we've received your appeal request.

It looks like you'd like to appeal the disabling of . While we're unable to respond personally to this particular message, please rest assured that your request has been submitted for appeal and one of our policy specialists will be reviewing it soon.

Please note that while we will take your comments into consideration when evaluating your website, there is no guarantee that ad serving will be re-enabled.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Subject: Regarding your Google AdSense Policy Violation Appeal

Hello,

Thank you for providing us with additional information about your site. However, after thoroughly reviewing africahunting.com and taking your feedback into consideration, we're unable to re-enable ad serving to your site at this time, as your site appears to still be in violation.

If you'd like to have your site reconsidered for participation in the AdSense program, please review our program policies (https://www.google.com/adsense/policies) and make any necessary changes to your webpages. For more information regarding your policy issue, please visit https://www.google.com/adsense/suppo...?answer=113061 .

Once you've fully resolved any issues with your site, please visit https://....

We appreciate your cooperation.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

AdSense.....mmmm......sounds like you are going to have fun with them jerome....i see lots of automated emails in the future...

They must think that their meat magically appears in styrene trays covered with plastic.

Either that or they're with the tofu for lunch bunch!

I think there is common sense to Google AdSense, LOL.

Welcome to google not liking hunting, etc

They are just protecting American children through thoughtful censorship, right?
Freedom of speech is passe.

Google Sadly Joins The Anti-Gun Brigade - Forbes

Originally Posted by enysse

I think there is common sense to Google AdSense, LOL.

or just Nonsense

Jerome- Anything we can do to help?

Google is growing leaps and bounds.

Google has a power position they are flexing there muscle.

leave Bing with Microsoft which i do not like.

Originally Posted by Cliffy

Jerome- Anything we can do to help?

Thanks Cliffy!

It's surely blatant censorship, Google is running its' own agenda which is clearly anti hunting... However I feel that any further effort on my part would probably jeopardize AfricaHunting.com on the internet since Google is such a powerhouse and has the ability to make AH disappear from their search engine which would be far more harmful than the loss of the income from the Adwords.

Jerome

If this picture was the one that they were using as a basis for censorship.

To make this a simple fix, just remove this photograph and let the poster know that is what you have done.

What can we learn form this?

From what i can see, based on the numerous photos that are posted on AH, what makes this photo special (different).

1. The animal is not posed to show the respect that should be shown.
2. The blood is present. I think that this is the reason this photo was selected.
3. Poor quality photo from shadows for persons standing by.

Now i base this on other professional organizations i belong to.
1. If the animals shows blood they will not published or post photos.
2. If the photo is not taken to show respect it is not published or posted.
These are but a couple of the criteria that they require to post pictures.

What could The hunter have done differently to make this a better photo.
1. A little water to wash the blood away.
2. Move the warthog a few feet to have a clean area to take the picture.
3. Posed the animal in a respectful way as to not provide offence to viewers.
if these were done there would be no issue with the photo.

We as a group need to be aware that there are many anti hunters lurking the web site and who provide feed back to Google. If they can show that they have found 1 picture out of many on here, there must be more in the back ground, that they have not found. There goal is to put us out of business.

Its really depressing, regarding all the shit I can find on the net using google. And I dont talk about pornography. There are some real disturbing things out there. And google willingly pops it up. And a simple hunting picture ticks them off.... Where is the world moving? I just ask....

Originally Posted by Wolverine67

Its really depressing, regarding all the shit I can find on the net using google. And I dont talk about pornography. There are some real disturbing things out there. And google willingly pops it up. And a simple hunting picture ticks them off.... Where is the world moving? I just ask....

Couldn't agree with you more...

We are outnumbered. There is nothing we can do. Just look at the math. I have lived long enough to know it's not good to be called a hunter. In today's world it's becoming increasing unpopular. We are dinosaurs.

Originally Posted by Wolverine67

Its really depressing, regarding all the shit I can find on the net using google. And I dont talk about pornography. There are some real disturbing things out there. And google willingly pops it up. And a simple hunting picture ticks them off.... Where is the world moving? I just ask....

Wolverine, want to see the direction the world and Google are going???? You are right, enter what I am about to tell you and find out for yourself. (BTW) my preacher friend is the one who told me about this discusting crap going on in society. "Google" the words "shit eaters", I'm not kidding, type it in and just click a couple of links. The bloody Warthog, yeah, that is disturbing.... Give me a break.

Jerome I do understand the stance you had to take but, this world just keeps getting more F***ed up, but hey, Google doesn't want to offend shiteaters around the world, right.

Originally Posted by James.Grage

Jerome

If this picture was the one that they were using as a basis for censorship.

To make this a simple fix, just remove this photograph and let the poster know that is what you have done.

What can we learn form this?

From what i can see, based on the numerous photos that are posted on AH, what makes this photo special (different).

1. The animal is not posed to show the respect that should be shown.
2. The blood is present. I think that this is the reason this photo was selected.
3. Poor quality photo from shadows for persons standing by.

Now i base this on other professional organizations i belong to.
1. If the animals shows blood they will not published or post photos.
2. If the photo is not taken to show respect it is not published or posted.
These are but a couple of the criteria that they require to post pictures.

What could The hunter have done differently to make this a better photo.
1. A little water to wash the blood away.
2. Move the warthog a few feet to have a clean area to take the picture.
3. Posed the animal in a respectful way as to not provide offence to viewers.
if these were done there would be no issue with the photo.

We as a group need to be aware that there are many anti hunters lurking the web site and who provide feed back to Google. If they can show that they have found 1 picture out of many on here, there must be more in the back ground, that they have not found. There goal is to put us out of business.

James,
I get your point, but we are dammed if we do and dammed if we don't. If Jerome starts removing "offensive" pictures, how long until google decides that ANY picture of a dead animal is offensive? How far do you give in to blackmail, and where do you draw the line? I agree that hunting pictures should show respect for the creature you killed, but they also should be allowed to show THAT the creature was killed. As AKMike said, meat does not grow on styrene trays...

Such nonsense! Jerome, you are doing a wonderful job! Google is using it's position to try to change society...and will not respond to what groups like ours want to see. Google thinks IT determines what is right, and the rest of us must follow. Observe the travel to North Korea to peddle their product! Not exactly a "politically correct" decision, but they don't care what we think.

I agree that the photo might be offensive to some, but A LOT of other things on Google sponsored sites are offensive to me...and I simply stay away from those sites! They should let the viewers make those decisions. Their censorship shows THEIR bias...not those of society.

Keep up the good work, Jerome. There are a lot of us out here who really think you are doing an outstanding job. ONE picture got by...that doesn't condemn the whole site! We are hunters, and WE ALSO have the right to use this format if we want to. If outside viewers don't like it, then they should get off the site!