Google Ads and Merchant Center: AI content rules and Content Credentials
Short answer
Google Ads requires advertisers to disclose election ads that contain synthetic or digitally altered content depicting real or realistic-looking people or events, by ticking “Altered or synthetic content” in the campaign settings. In Merchant Center, product images created with generative AI must carry metadata saying so, such as the IPTC trainedAlgorithmicMedia tag, and that metadata must not be removed.
Official sources: Google Advertising Policies Help: Political content (Google Ads policy) · Google Merchant Center Help: Image link [image_link]
Covers: Election ads · Shopping images
| Label required from creators | Yes: election ads; AI metadata on product images |
|---|---|
| Platform labels by itself | Disclosure generated from the checkbox |
| Content Credentials (C2PA) | Not documented (IPTC metadata required in Merchant Center) |
| Read on | 3 November 2026 |
AI content rules: what Google Ads and Merchant Center says
Election ads
Rule: discloseGoogle Ads political content policy.
“Advertisers must disclose all election ads that contain synthetic or digitally altered content by selecting the checkbox in the “Altered or synthetic content” section in their campaign settings.”
What is in scope
RuleSame page.
“Google believes that users should have information to make informed decisions when viewing election ads that contain synthetic or digitally altered content, specifically images, video, or audio that inauthentically depict real or realistic-looking people or events.”
Out of scope
Not requiredSame page.
“Ads that contain content that is synthetic or digitally altered in such a way that is inconsequential to the claims made in the ad aren't considered in scope of this policy.”
Keep the metadata
Rule: keep AI metadataMerchant Center Help.
“Don't remove embedded metadata tags such as the IPTC DigitalSourceType property from images created using generative AI tools, for example Product Studio.”
If you post AI content on Google Ads and Merchant Center
- Tick “Altered or synthetic content” for election ads with realistic synthetic people or events.
- Upload AI-generated product images with their IPTC digital source type intact.
- Minor edits such as cropping or colour correction are out of scope for the election-ad rule.
Content Credentials (C2PA): what the source says
AI image metadata (Merchant Center)
Rule: keep AI metadataGoogle Merchant Center Help, image link attribute.
“All images created using generative AI must contain meta data indicating that the image was AI-generated (for example, the IPTC DigitalSourceTypeTrainedAlgorithmicMedia metadata tag).”
What is and is not documented
- The election-ad rule applies in regions where election ads verification is required.
Check a file yourself
The Content Credentials checker reads the C2PA data in an image in your browser and shows who signed it, the generating tool and whether the signature still matches. It reads what a file declares; it does not detect AI from pixels, and a file with no credentials proves nothing either way. See why metadata gets stripped.
Questions
- Do I have to label AI content on Google Ads and Merchant Center?
- Google Ads and Merchant Center’s page says: “Advertisers must disclose all election ads that contain synthetic or digitally altered content by selecting the checkbox in the “Altered or synthetic content” section in their campaign settings.” (Political content (Google Ads policy)).
- Does Google Ads and Merchant Center keep or strip Content Credentials?
- Merchant Center requires IPTC metadata on AI-generated images; neither page mentions C2PA.
- Does Google Ads and Merchant Center read Content Credentials to label content?
- We did not find that stated in the sources we read.
- What is not documented about Google Ads and Merchant Center?
- The election-ad rule applies in regions where election ads verification is required.
This page reports what the cited sources say on the date shown. It is not an assessment of anyone’s product, it is not legal advice, and Proofcan does not guarantee compliance. Spotted something out of date? Write to support@proofcan.com.
Sources
- Political content (Google Ads policy)Google Advertising Policies Helplast checked
- Image link [image_link]Google Merchant Center Helplast checked
Page reviewed . Proofcan is a technical tool, not legal advice, and does not guarantee compliance.