Apple reveals which ads won’t be allowed in Apple Maps

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Apple has updated its Advertising Services policy with new rules for Apple Maps ads, outlining which businesses will not be allowed to advertise on the platform.

First spotted by TechCrunch, the updated policy prohibits ads from several business categories, including home service providers, bail bond companies, and cryptocurrency ATM operators.

Apple says Maps ads will begin rolling out in the United States and Canada later this summer, appearing in Search Results and the Suggested Places section.

Apple Maps ads will exclude several business categories

Under the updated policy, Apple will not allow ads that directly or indirectly promote home services, including:

• Plumbing
• Electrical services
• HVAC
• Pest control
• Roofing
• Locksmith services
• General contracting

The company is also banning advertisements for:

• Bail bond services
• Cryptocurrency ATMs

Medical services are not automatically prohibited. Instead, Apple says those advertisements will be reviewed individually before being approved.

This approach differs from Google Maps, which allows many home service providers to advertise. Apple appears to be focusing on businesses that customers can physically visit rather than service providers that travel to customers.

Maps ads must comply with Apple’s broader advertising policies

Businesses advertising in Apple Maps must also follow Apple’s existing Advertising Services guidelines.

Those policies already prohibit advertisements related to:

• Controlled substances
• Weapons
• Tobacco products
• Political campaigns
• Misleading or deceptive claims
• Illegal or offensive content

Apple also continues to restrict ads for products and services that directly compete with its own hardware.

The company says all sponsored listings in Apple Maps will be clearly labeled as advertisements.

Apple also emphasized its privacy protections, stating that a user’s Apple Maps activity will not be linked to their Apple Account for advertising purposes. The company also says it will neither collect advertising profiles nor share advertising data with third parties.

Apple first confirmed earlier this year that ads were coming to Apple Maps. The updated policy provides the clearest look yet at which businesses will be eligible to promote listings when the rollout begins later this summer.

Do you think Apple’s approach to Apple Maps advertising strikes the right balance between monetization and user privacy? Let us know in the comments below.

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