Google Ads news – week 24


New security and compliance features for Data Studio Pro

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Google has introduced three new controls to help organizations strengthen data governance:

• Customer-managed encryption keys (CMEK) for protecting Data Studio Pro assets

• Customer-managed storage for file uploads and data extracts

• Data residency to keep data within a selected geographical area

These features give enterprises more control over how their data is encrypted, stored, and geographically managed.Available exclusively with Data Studio Pro.


Policy update

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On June 29, 2026, Google will update the Gambling and Games policy for France to align with the current regulatory landscape for online gambling content.


Google Ads API Developer Assistant v3.0.0 launches

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The latest release introduces a major architectural upgrade, moving the Assistant to Google’s Antigravity agent framework and a modular, skills-based design.Key improvements include:

• Enhanced GAQL validation

• Dynamic Protobuf message and enum inspection

• More reliable conversion troubleshooting

• Better performance and reduced token usage

Support for the previous gemini-cli framework ends on June 18, 2026, so developers should prepare to upgrade.


June 2026 update to the Display & Video 360 API

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Google’s latest DV360 API update introduces:• Support for Structured Data Files v10

• New AudioContentType, Exchange, and GeoRegionType values

• YouTube Channel Pack targeting for Demand Gen resources

• A gradual rollout of full Demand Gen API support

By June 24, 2026, all DV360 partners will be able to retrieve, create, and update Demand Gen resources through the API.

Before using the new features, make sure your client library is updated to the latest version.


Google’s Mobile Ads Next-Gen SDK is now available for Unity

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Unity developers can now upgrade their Android apps to Google’s new ad architecture with one setting in GMA Unity plugin 11.1.0.

Key benefits include:

• Up to 27% faster banner ad request latency

• Smaller on-device SDK size

• Background initialization for faster app startup

• Improved stability with RPCs removed

• Support for all existing ad formats

To enable it, open Assets → Google Mobile Ads → Settings in Unity and select “Upgrade to the GMA Next-Gen SDK.”

With all future Android ad development focused on the Next-Gen SDK, now is a good time to test the upgrade.


Google delays DSA automigration to February 2027

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Google is giving advertisers more time to transition Dynamic Search Ads to AI-powered campaign types:

• New DSA creation returns on June 15, 2026

• Voluntary testing and migration continues through January 2027

• DSA creation will be removed in January 2027

• Automatic migration begins in February 2027

The extension is a welcome opportunity to audit existing DSAs, test AI Max for Search side by side, and migrate on your own terms rather than waiting for the automatic upgrade.

More time but don’t wait until the deadline.


New updates for cleaner source analysis

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GA4 is introducing Source Group, improving Source Platform, and adding a new Hostname filter.

Source Group standardizes messy source values such as “fb,” “facebook,” and “Meta-facebook” into one clear reporting value.

This makes cross-channel performance, attribution, and budget analysis easier across platforms like Meta, TikTok, Pinterest, Amazon, Google, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.

The new Hostname filter also lets you exclude events from unapproved domains, helping keep your data clean and relevant.


Google is updating its Limited Ad Serving policy in June 2026, with a stronger focus on advertiser identity, transparency, and user trust

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Key takeaways for advertisers:

• Make your brand identity clear in both ads and landing pages

• Be transparent when referencing other brands

• Avoid generic or misleading ad copy

• Ensure your domain and landing page clearly represent your business

• Build a strong history of policy compliance and positive user experience

Google may limit impressions for advertisers it considers unqualified, especially on searches with a higher risk of negative ad experiences.

This is a useful reminder that strong branding is no longer just a marketing advantage it is becoming increasingly important for ad eligibility and reach.

Thanks to Arpan Banerjee for sharing this update.


GA4 GBP Link

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Barry Schwartz discovered that the GA4 GBP link is live!


Good price

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Sachin Patel discovered that Google Ads is now showing good price!


Google is expanding Local Services Ads for real estate across all 50 U.S. states, now showing property photos, pricing and key details directly within Search ads.

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Powered by a partnership with HouseCanary, the updated format lets buyers evaluate homes and contact agents by call, message or appointment without leaving Google.

Existing LSA advertisers are included automatically. New advertisers can sign up directly; portal partners can enroll agents through Google’s managed partner program.


Walmart

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Walmart’s first-party shopper data is coming to YouTube via DV360 letting advertisers reach Walmart’s audience on YouTube and measure whether those impressions drove actual Walmart sales.

Walmart’s first-party shopper data is coming to YouTube via DV360 letting advertisers reach Walmart’s audience on YouTube and measure whether those impressions drove actual Walmart sales.

That closed-loop attribution is what matters. Less guesswork, clearer ROI on video spend.

The broader shift: retail media networks are plugging into the programmatic ecosystem rather than staying siloed. Expect more of this.


Sitelinks

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Google is testing with blue lines below sitelinks. Found by Barry Schwartz & Gagan Ghotra.


Image asset test

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Anthony Higman discovered that LinkedIn is testing with image sitelink assets!


Policy

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Google Ads will allow online gambling ads in Vietnam from June 24, 2026, but only for Vietlott-authorized lottery promoters. Advertisers must get certification first.


Card test

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Hana Kobzová discovered that Google is testing the Sponsored Card Carousel in the Image Tab!


New metric

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Great insight from Bia Camargo on Google’s new co-viewing measurement for YouTube on Connected TV.

As more people watch YouTube on shared screens, advertisers need a clearer view of actual reach, not just the targeted user.

Co-viewing helps account for the extra people watching alongside them, bringing CTV measurement closer to traditional TV reporting.


Background

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Sachin Patel discovered that Google is testing with a grey background for Google Ads!


Ask Advisor

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Google’s Ask Advisor is a coming AI assistant for Google marketing products, rolling out through 2026.

It aims to help marketers turn data into decisions faster by working across tools like Google Ads, Google Analytics, Merchant Center, and Google Marketing Platform.

Key points:

It will act as an agentic AI advisor for campaign guidance and decision-making.

It will remember business priorities and improve recommendations over time.

It will use cross-product context to provide more useful insights.

It will move with users across Google marketing tools so tasks can continue without interruption.

The features are not fully available yet and are marked as coming soon.


Google just made local business reporting in GA4 a lot more useful

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With the new Google Business Profile integration, you can now link Google Analytics properties directly with Google Business Profiles from the Admin panel and bring key first-party GBP data into your reports.


ChatGPT Ads is expanding to new markets

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OpenAI is taking another step toward building a more mature ads ecosystem inside ChatGPT.

The company is expanding ChatGPT ads into five new markets: the UK, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, and Mexico, while also testing multi-advertiser placements that can show several relevant sponsored results in a single ad unit.

For advertisers, the Ads Manager Beta is also getting more practical campaign tools, including daily budget conversion, CPC cloning from CPM campaigns, custom CPM max bids, bulk editing, and weekly pacing flexibility.

Why it matters: this signals that OpenAI is moving beyond early ad experiments and toward a more scalable, international ad platform.

The biggest thing to watch is the multi-advertiser format.

If it works, it could reshape how sponsored content appears in AI conversations, especially during high-intent research and purchase journeys.


Top pages

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Arpan Banerjee discovered that Google is now showing top pages!


Week 24 finished

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