Illegal Acts & Goods
Illegal acts and prohibited goods are among the fastest triggers for immediate ad rejection and permanent account suspension. These involve trust violations and legal risks.
Platform-Specific Enforcement
How the rule differs across major advertising networks.
Meta (Facebook & Instagram)
Critical RiskMeta strictly prohibits advertising of illegal drugs, weapons, and unlicensed gambling. Even indirect facilitation (e.g., 'DM for pills') triggers immediate enforcement. Review the full Meta ad policies for prohibited product categories.
Not Allowed Examples
- — "Illegal/Recreational drugs"
- — "Counterfeit goods"
- — "Explosive materials"
Enforcement Detail
Penalty: Immediate ad rejection → repeated violations lead to ad account restriction.
TikTok Ads
Critical RiskTikTok bans controlled substances, crypto pump groups, and unlicensed gambling. Their aggressive AI moderation targets drug slang and financial exploitation. See the TikTok community guidelines for the full list of prohibited goods.
Not Allowed Examples
- — "Crypto pump groups"
- — "Drug slang/references"
- — "Fake documentation services"
Enforcement Detail
Penalty: Immediate rejection; repeated violations may permanently suspend ad account.
LinkedIn Ads
High RiskLinkedIn prohibits illegal business models, fake certifications, and fraudulent consulting schemes. Financial promotions must follow strict local compliance. Financial services advertisers must meet additional certification requirements.
Not Allowed Examples
- — "Unauthorized financial services"
- — "Fake certification claims"
- — "Fraudulent business models"
Enforcement Detail
Penalty: Immediate ad disapproval and potential legal investigation.
Google Ads
Critical RiskGoogle has one of the most comprehensive prohibited goods policies globally. They may suspend the entire account on the first severe violation. Consult our Google Ads policy guide for restricted categories.
Not Allowed Examples
- — "Prescription drugs without certification"
- — "Firearms and explosives"
- — "Unlicensed gambling"
Enforcement Detail
Penalty: Highest probability of immediate full account suspension.
YouTube Ads
Critical RiskFollows Google policy but enforces stricter rules around gambling targeting minors, alcohol, and adult content narratives. Advertisers in gambling and betting must meet pre-certification requirements.
Not Allowed Examples
- — "Gambling targeting minors"
- — "Adult content"
- — "Financial exploitation narratives"
Enforcement Detail
Penalty: Video rejection and possible permanent channel monetization impact.
X (Twitter) Ads
High RiskX allows some regulated categories with restrictions (pre-approval), but illegal goods promotion remains strictly prohibited.
Not Allowed Examples
- — "Unregulated crypto offerings"
- — "Prohibited weapon components"
- — "Illegal services"
Enforcement Detail
Penalty: Manual review and potential permanent ad account restriction.
Snapchat Ads
High RiskSnapchat strictly regulates alcohol, gambling, and adult products. Mandatory age-gating and regional compliance are required where permitted.
Not Allowed Examples
- — "Alcohol without age-gate"
- — "Unlicensed trading"
- — "Prohibited supplements"
Enforcement Detail
Penalty: Ad rejection and mandatory age-restriction enforcement.
Compliance Optimization
❌ Rejection Trigger
"DM for pills. High-quality relief products. No prescription needed."
✅ Expert-Verified Alternative
"Consult with our licensed healthcare professionals for personalized wellness advice."
Strategic Fix: The 'Bad' version uses coded language for unregulated substances (Illegal Goods). The 'Good' version focuses on licensed, legal medical consultation. This violation type is the most severe and differs from harmful claims or misleading content in that it can result in permanent account bans. Use the Legal Compliance Scan to check your ad for prohibited product references.
Related Resources
Explore more compliance guides, tools, and policy breakdowns.