Ad Review and Content Moderation Policy

Last Updated:Tuesday, 01 October, 2024

At NsAds.in, powered by Nile Spectra, we are committed to ensuring that all ads displayed on our platform meet high standards of quality, comply with legal requirements, and protect the user experience. This Ad Review and Content Moderation Policy outlines the processes we follow to review, approve, and moderate ads before and after they are served, ensuring adherence to our content guidelines.

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1. Overview of Ad Review Process

To maintain a trustworthy advertising ecosystem, all ads submitted to NsAds.in undergo a thorough review process before they go live. This process involves a combination of automated systems and manual reviews by our content moderation team.

1.1 Goals of the Review Process

• Compliance with Regulations: Ensure that ads comply with applicable local, national, and international laws, including advertising standards, intellectual property rights, and privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA).
• Brand Safety: Protect the reputation of both advertisers and publishers by ensuring that ads are appropriate and do not appear alongside harmful, offensive, or inappropriate content.
• User Protection: Prevent misleading, harmful, or fraudulent content from reaching users.

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2. Automated Ad Review System

NsAds.in uses an automated ad review system to scan all submitted ads for compliance with platform policies. This system performs an initial analysis of the ad’s content and structure to identify potential violations or risks.

2.1 Automated Scanning Features

• Content Scanning: Text, images, and videos in ads are scanned for inappropriate or prohibited content, including offensive language, adult material, hate speech, or misleading claims.
• Malware and Phishing Detection: The system scans ads for malicious code or hidden URLs that could redirect users to phishing sites or install malware on their devices.
• Landing Page Review: The URL or destination site associated with the ad is automatically checked for safety, ensuring that it does not contain harmful content, redirects, or violations of the platform’s policies.

2.2 Frequency of Automated Checks

• Pre-submission: All ads are scanned during the submission process before they go live.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Ads that pass the initial review are subject to ongoing automated monitoring to detect any changes that may cause non-compliance. For example, if an advertiser modifies the content of a landing page, the system will re-scan the page.

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3. Manual Review Process

In addition to automated checks, NsAds.in conducts manual reviews for certain ad types, such as those flagged by the automated system or those falling into restricted categories.

3.1 Categories Subject to Manual Review

Some categories of ads require additional scrutiny to ensure compliance with local regulations and platform standards. These include:

• Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Ads promoting medical treatments, pharmaceuticals, or healthcare services must comply with local regulations (e.g., FDA guidelines in the U.S.).
• Alcohol and Tobacco: Ads related to alcohol or tobacco products must adhere to age restrictions and be reviewed to ensure responsible messaging.
• Gambling: Ads for gambling or betting services must comply with regional laws and include responsible gambling disclaimers.
• Political and Advocacy Ads: Political ads are reviewed to ensure compliance with election laws, including disclosure of sponsors and adherence to content guidelines.

3.2 Manual Review Criteria

• Accuracy of Claims: Ads making specific claims (e.g., health benefits, product guarantees) are reviewed to ensure they are truthful, substantiated, and not misleading.
• Visual Content: The manual review team assesses images and videos to ensure they comply with content guidelines and are appropriate for the intended audience.
• Targeting Restrictions: Ads targeting sensitive demographics (e.g., children, vulnerable individuals) are reviewed to ensure they comply with targeting restrictions and privacy laws.

3.3 Human Judgment

Our trained moderation team makes subjective judgments based on the platform’s guidelines and industry standards. If an ad violates policy, it is either rejected or returned to the advertiser for revisions.

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4. Ad Approval and Rejection

Once an ad has passed both automated and manual reviews (if applicable), it is approved for distribution across the NsAds.in network. If the ad is rejected, the advertiser is notified with an explanation and guidelines for making necessary changes.

4.1 Notification of Approval

• Real-time Approval: Advertisers receive notifications through the NsAds.in dashboard once their ads are approved and ready to go live.
• Approval Summary: A summary of the ad’s performance potential, targeting settings, and compliance status is provided for the advertiser’s reference.

4.2 Reasons for Rejection

Ads may be rejected for several reasons, including:

• Violation of Content Guidelines: If the ad contains prohibited or restricted content (e.g., misleading claims, explicit material).
• Non-compliance with Regulations: If the ad fails to meet legal or industry standards (e.g., false claims, unauthorized use of trademarks).
• Invalid or Unsafe Landing Pages: If the URL redirects users to harmful sites or contains malware, phishing attempts, or misleading information.

4.3 How to Resolve Rejection

When an ad is rejected, the advertiser will receive a detailed explanation via email or through the NsAds.in dashboard. This explanation includes:

• Reason for Rejection: A clear reason for the rejection and reference to the violated policy.
• Suggested Changes: Recommendations on how to modify the ad to comply with platform standards.
• Resubmission Process: After making the necessary changes, advertisers can resubmit the ad for a second review. Resubmitted ads typically undergo expedited review.

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5. Ongoing Content Moderation

Even after ads are approved, NsAds.in continuously monitors ad performance and content to ensure ongoing compliance with platform standards. If an ad begins to exhibit non-compliant behavior after approval, it may be flagged for further review or removal.

5.1 Ongoing Monitoring

• Performance Monitoring: Ads are continuously monitored for performance metrics like click-through rates (CTR) and conversion rates to detect unusual behavior, which may indicate fraud or misleading content.
• Landing Page Re-checks: Ads are regularly rechecked to ensure that landing pages remain safe and compliant, especially if the content of the page changes after the ad goes live.

5.2 Flagging Mechanisms

Ads may be flagged for review post-launch for the following reasons:

• User Reports: Users can report ads they believe violate platform policies (e.g., misleading claims, offensive content). These reports are reviewed by our moderation team.
• Advertiser Behavior: If an advertiser consistently submits non-compliant ads, their account may be flagged for stricter review processes.
• Publisher Feedback: Publishers can report ads that do not align with their brand safety policies or that negatively affect their audience’s experience.

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6. Prohibited and Restricted Content

NsAds.in has strict guidelines regarding the types of content that can be served on our platform. Ads containing prohibited or restricted content will not be approved, and repeat violations may result in account suspension.

6.1 Prohibited Content

The following types of content are strictly prohibited on NsAds.in:

• Illegal Products and Services: Ads promoting illegal drugs, firearms, counterfeit goods, or other illegal activities.
• Malicious Content: Ads containing viruses, malware, or phishing schemes designed to harm users.
• Hate Speech and Violence: Ads promoting hate speech, violent behavior, or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics.
• Adult Content: Ads featuring explicit sexual content, nudity, or adult products/services (e.g., pornography, escort services).

6.2 Restricted Content

Certain content is allowed but must comply with additional restrictions or require pre-approval:

• Alcohol and Tobacco: Ads for alcohol and tobacco must comply with age restrictions and regional advertising laws.
• Gambling: Gambling ads are only permitted in jurisdictions where it is legal and must follow local regulations and guidelines.
• Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Products: Ads promoting prescription drugs, medical treatments, or healthcare products must include appropriate disclaimers and meet legal requirements.

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7. Appeals Process

Advertisers have the right to appeal if they believe their ads were wrongly rejected. The NsAds.in appeals process is designed to ensure fairness and transparency in content moderation decisions.

7.1 How to File an Appeal

To file an appeal, advertisers can:

• Submit an Appeal via the Dashboard: Through the NsAds.in dashboard, advertisers can submit an appeal for a rejected ad, providing a detailed explanation as to why they believe the rejection was unjustified.
• Supporting Documentation: Advertisers can provide additional supporting documents (e.g., evidence of claim substantiation, legal permissions) as part of the appeal.

7.2 Appeal Review Process

• Review by Senior Moderators: Appeals are reviewed by senior members of the content moderation team who were not involved in the original rejection decision.
• Timeline for Resolution: Appeals are typically reviewed and resolved within 48 hours. If the rejection is upheld, the advertiser will receive a final explanation.

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8. Fraud Detection and Ad Quality Control

To ensure the integrity of the platform and protect both advertisers and publishers, NsAds.in employs advanced fraud detection mechanisms and quality control procedures.

8.1 Fraud Detection

• Click Fraud Prevention: We use machine learning algorithms to detect and block fraudulent clicks (e.g., bots, click farms) that artificially inflate ad metrics.
• Ad Impression Fraud Detection: Techniques such as ad stacking and pixel stuffing (where ads are hidden in tiny, invisible containers) are automatically detected and blocked by our system.

8.2 Ad Quality Scoring

• Ad Relevance: Ads are scored based on their relevance to the target audience. Low-relevance ads may be deprioritized in the ad auction system or flagged for review.
• Viewability: Ads are measured for viewability (i.e., how long the ad was in view), and those with consistently low viewability may be removed to protect the user experience.

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9. Reporting Violations and Feedback

If you encounter an ad that you believe violates our policies or want to provide feedback on a specific ad, you can report it to our content moderation team.

9.1 How to Report an Ad

• Reporting via the Platform: Users and publishers can report ads directly via the NsAds.in platform by clicking the "Report Ad" button available on every ad placement.
• Email Support: You can also contact our support team via email at [email protected] with details of the ad and the reason for the report.

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Contact Us

For any questions, concerns, or support related to ad review and moderation, please reach out to us:

• Email: [email protected]
• Mailing Address: NsAds.in Content Moderation Team, NsAds.in [by Nile Spectra] - Address: 4th Floor, Aparna Astute Jubilee Hills, Shaikpet, Hyderabad, Telangana 500008
• Support Portal: Visit our Support Portal for more information and resources.