Google has for some time been the target of criticism for allowing companies that reject climate change and climate change efforts to buy search ads. According to the results of a 2020 YouTube study by the nonprofit Avaaz, videos that disseminate information about climate change efforts were viewed more than 21 million times, proving that Google platforms contain misinformation that could mislead the public.
This study caused the internet giant Google to receive a warning in the US Congress; however, Google still continues to argue that it supports efforts to combat climate change.
2SV will be enabled for configured accounts
A recent report from Google claims that the company will enable two-step authentication (2SV) for configured accounts. In a statement this week, Google announced that 150 million users will be automatically registered for 2SV by the end of 2021. Still believing that 2SV is the safest way to eliminate illegal access to accounts and networks, Google also stated that by the end of the year, 2 million YouTube content producers will also use 2SV as mandatory. In addition to these, there will be a special section in the Google Android application menu to access all saved passwords.
Moreover, the company claims that it is working on other methods besides 2SV so that users can have a secure authentication experience and reduce reliance on passwords.
Content that rejects climate change will be banned
Along with all this, Google will also stop funding such Google ads and YouTube videos, starting next month, by banning ads that violate the science-based consensus on climate change. Theories that see the global response to climate change efforts as a hoax or spoof are also among the contents to be banned.
Stating that this rule will come into effect as of November, Google also noted that meetings are being held with experts from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The formulation of this new advertising rule will also be checked through a meeting with a professional team.