MAM
Google to ban cryptocurrency ads
MUMBAI: In a move that will have far-reaching ramifications for speculative trade of digital currencies, technology giant Google has announced that it will prohibit advertisements promoting any kind of cryptocurrency. The move is in sync with Google’s upcoming financial services policy. Such ads will be banned across the tech behehoth’s products
In a blog post on the company’s website yesterday, Google’s director of sustainable ads Scott Spencer cited the “unregulated” and “speculative” nature of many of the financial products being advertised.
Google’s decision mirrors a similar announcement from Facebook earlier this year that reflects a broader push by the advertising giants to rebuild user trust in their platforms.
Last year, Google struggled to address advertisers’ concerns that ads were being run alongside objectionable content.
The ban on crypto-related terms will begin from June this year and will cover search, display and YouTube ads for binary options and synonymous products, cryptocurrencies and related content (including but not limited to initial coin offerings, cryptocurrency exchanges, cryptocurrency wallets and cryptocurrency trading advice).
Spencer also stated that the new policy would contain measures to restrict the advertisement of contracts for difference, rolling spot forex and financial spread betting.
The company further stated that advertisers offering the aforementioned features will be required to be certified by Google before they can advertise through AdWords.
To be certified by Google, advertisers will need to be licensed by the relevant financial services authority in the country or countries they are targeting; ensure their ads and landing pages comply with all AdWords policies and comply with relevant legal requirements, including those related to complex speculative financial products.
The company also stated that advertisers can request certification with Google starting March 2018, soon after the application form is published. However, certification will be subject only to select countries.
Bitcoins and other forms of cryptocurrencies have gained widespread popularity in the recent past. They have, however, been shunned as illegal forms of tender. India’s finance minister Arun Jaitley, in his budget speech for 2018, affirmed that the government would do everything to discontinue the use of bitcoin and other virtual currencies in India. He also pointed out that India did not recognise them as legal tender and would instead encourage blockchain technology in payment systems.
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Brands
Hiili names Sanjay Hemady as country manager India
Media veteran to drive digital decarbonisation push
MUMBAI: Climate tech firm Hiili has announced its entry into India, appointing industry veteran Sanjay Hemady as India country manager to steer its growth in one of the world’s fastest-expanding digital markets.
Hemady, a familiar name across India’s media and consulting circles, will lead Hiili’s India operations from Mumbai. His mandate is clear: help Indian companies measure, manage and reduce the carbon emissions generated by their digital services.
Hiili offers a scientifically validated platform, certified by the UC3M-Santander Big Data Institute, that enables businesses to improve the efficiency of their digital infrastructure while cutting emissions. As organisations race to meet ESG targets, the company positions itself as a practical bridge between climate pledges and measurable action.
“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as country manager, India at Hiili,” Hemady said in a LinkedIn post, adding that the company aims to move beyond broad sustainability promises towards precise, science-based decarbonisation.
Hemady brings more than three decades of experience spanning print, television, radio and digital media. He has previously served as chief executive officer at HIT 95 FM, assistant general manager at CNBC TV18, and held leadership roles at MTV India and The Indian Express, among others. Most recently, he worked as an independent business consultant advising firms across media and technology.
With India’s digital economy expanding at pace, the environmental cost of data, streaming and online services is climbing quietly in the background. Hiili’s bet is that carbon efficiency will soon sit alongside cost efficiency in boardroom conversations.
For Hemady, the move marks a shift from selling airtime and ad inventory to championing climate accountability. If successful, Hiili’s India play could make digital growth not just faster, but cleaner too.
