Indian Sites Spreading Harmful Disinformation Are Earning Money Through Google’s Ads

Bellingcat reports that dozens of Indian websites continue to monetize debunked, hateful disinformation—such as the “flood jihad” conspiracy—through Google AdSense and other ad-tech providers, identifying 53 sites hosting 91 active articles with ads on most despite platform policies. The investigation highlights Google’s page-level enforcement approach, limited transparency for advertisers, the involvement of other vendors (e.g., Taboola, iZooto, AppNexus/Index Exchange), and instances where brands blocked placements after being notified, underscoring both the financial incentives and real-world harms tied to this content.