Some of you may have seen this before, but we think it has probably gone well below the radar of many advertisers and active Google users out there, so we thought we’d re-share.

Back at the end of March 2023, Google launched a new feature called the Ads Transparency Center.

It’s not just a tool for advertisers. It’s aimed at consumers so they can better understand who they are interacting with when clicking on an Ad anywhere in the Google ecosystem.

That said, it’s also way that advertisers can quickly understand the kind of advertising that may be shown in the same market in which they themselves advertise. Basically, a quick and easy way to check out the competition, their messaging, and the channels they use.

From Google:

“We know how important it is for you to learn more about the ads you see online. More than 30 million people interact with Google’s ads transparency and control menus every day. That’s why over the past five years, we’ve invested in delivering better ways for you to learn more about the ads you see and keep you in control.

Today, the Ads Transparency Center will start rolling out to users around the world to help you quickly and easily learn more about the ads you see from Google, including Search, YouTube and Display.

The Ads Transparency Center builds on a long history of working to provide you with more information about your advertisers. In 2018, we began requiring advertisers who wish to run election ads on our platforms to go through a verification process and include an in-ad disclosure that clearly shows who paid for the ad. In 2020, we took this one step further by introducing a global advertiser identity verification program that requires Google advertisers to verify information about their businesses, where they operate from and what they’re selling or promoting. Last fall, we launched My Ad Center globally, our newest and most user-centric way to help you control the ads you see on Search, YouTube and Discover — directly from the ads themselves.”

Alejandro Borgia
Director, Product Management, Ads Safety

Introducing the Ads Transparency Center

The Ads Transparency Center is a searchable hub of all ads served from verified advertisers.

This one-stop shop was designed with you in mind by ensuring you have easy access to information about the ads you see from Google. With the Ads Transparency Center, you’ll be able to understand:

For example, imagine you’re seeing an ad for a skincare product you’re interested in, but you don’t recognise the brand, or you’re curious to understand if you recognize other ads from this brand. With the Ads Transparency Center, you can look up the advertiser and learn more about them before purchasing or visiting their site.

Visit the Ads Transparency Center here: