Google’s Policy Puzzle: Excluding Persian Web Content
In the world of digital advertising, Google AdSense stands as a dominant player, yet it presents a curious anomaly in its policy towards Persian language web content. This policy, intriguing in its specificity, excludes websites with predominantly Persian written content, despite Google’s technical ability to support other right-to-left languages such as Arabic and Hebrew.
The paradox deepens when considering Google’s approach to Persian advertisements. The platform allows ads in Persian targeting audiences globally, indicating that the issue isn’t with the Persian language, but specifically with written web content. This selective approach is puzzling, especially when contrasting it with Google’s policies for other forms of Persian content. For instance, Persian language videos on YouTube do not face similar restrictions, highlighting an inconsistency in the treatment of different media formats.
The backdrop of US sanctions against Iran adds another layer of complexity. These sanctions, targeting economic activities with Iran, might indirectly influence Google’s policies, although a direct link between these sanctions and Google’s stance on Persian web content is not explicitly established. The company has not publicly tied its policy to these geopolitical factors.
As a technology journalist who has been writing a Persian language blog since 2002, I have first-hand experience of the challenges posed by this policy. The inability to monetise through Google AdSense, a vital tool for many online content creators, is a significant barrier. This selective policy impacts not just individual Persian writers and bloggers but also the broader Persian-speaking digital community, potentially limiting growth and diversity in online content.
The underlying reasons for Google’s selective approach towards Persian web content, including the possible influence of geopolitical factors such as US sanctions, remain unclear. However, the impact on content creators is undeniable and disheartening. This policy significantly shapes the digital content landscape, particularly for less globally dominant languages.
In response to this, I call on Google to reconsider its policy towards Persian language web content. Supporting linguistic and cultural diversity online is crucial, and adjusting this policy could provide new opportunities for Persian content creators, fostering a more inclusive digital environment.
We encourage those affected by or interested in digital content creation and monetisation to share their experiences and perspectives. Your insights are essential in highlighting the importance of equitable policies in the digital realm and in urging major platforms like Google to reassess policies that limit linguistic and cultural diversity.
