Microsoft removed 1 billion ads for violations in 2024

Microsoft Advertising removed or restricted over 1 billion ads for policy violations, according to a report detailing its 2024 enforcement efforts. This was a sharp response to the growing sophistication of scams, deepfakes, and bad actors using the platform.

Clean ads or no ads. As threats like AI-generated scams, deepfake celebrity endorsements, and phishing sites became more prevalent, Microsoft leaned heavily into an AI-first defense strategy. The result: a year of aggressive moderation and enforcement to protect ad integrity and consumer trust.

• “We’re investing in smarter systems and clearer rules to keep the ecosystem clean for everyone,” Microsoft said in its annual trust and safety summary.

What Microsoft did.

• More than 1 billion ads removed or restricted, mostly for misleading claims, brand misuse, or gambling content.
• 75,000 advertiser accounts suspended for egregious abuse of the ad network.
• 250,000 publisher pages de-monetized for violating content policies (e.g., explicit content, dangerous products).

Listening and correcting. Microsoft emphasized its commitment to fairness and transparency, with systems in place for advertisers and publishers to appeal decisions.

• 1.5 million ad rejections overturned after review.
• 20,000 accounts reinstated based on 72,000 appeals.
• Acted on 70,000 user complaints, resulting in 245,000 ad rejections and 5,000 account bans.

Behind the scenes. To keep pace with evolving threats, Microsoft upgraded its review system by:

• Replacing black-box flags with LLM-generated explanations to give reviewers context.
• Deploying agentic workflows that detect scam patterns in real time.
• Flagging risky behavior earlier with signals like fake business credentials and unusual payment activity.

Why we care. The ad world is facing rising scrutiny around misinformation and AI abuse, so Microsoft’s moves show a strong pivot toward proactive, explainable enforcement. Microsoft Advertising’s removal of more than a billion harmful ads and suspension of hundreds of thousands of bad actors helps protect brand integrity, consumer trust, and ad performance.

Bottom line. In the battle for ad safety, Microsoft isn’t just playing defense – it’s actively rewriting the rules with AI-powered oversight and human accountability to make advertising safer, smarter, and more transparent.

Dig deeper. Google: 39 million advertisers suspended; 5.5 billion ads removed in 2024