Overview
Pubcontext is committed to maintaining a safe, trustworthy, and compliant advertising platform. These Campaign Quality Guidelines establish standards for all advertisers and campaigns using the Pubcontext DSP platform. Our goal is to protect consumers, publishers, and advertisers while ensuring high-quality, ethical programmatic advertising.
All Pubcontext advertisers must comply with these guidelines. Violations may result in campaign suspension, account deactivation, or permanent removal from the platform.
1. Prohibited Advertiser Categories
Pubcontext does not accept advertising from the following business categories:
Illegal Products & Services
- Illegal drugs, controlled substances, or paraphernalia
- Weapons, explosives, or materials used for illegal purposes
- Counterfeit or stolen goods
- Unlicensed financial services or securities
Adult Content & Services
- Sexually explicit content or adult entertainment services
- Escort services or sexual services
- Pornographic material
Health & Medical Claims
- Unregulated medical treatments or practices
- False or misleading health claims (e.g., "cure cancer," "lose 50 lbs in one week")
- Unregulated dietary supplements with medical claims
- Prescription medications without proper licensing and compliance
Deceptive Financial Services
- Predatory lending or payday loan services
- Unregulated cryptocurrency schemes or pump-and-dump schemes
- Unlicensed investment services
- Pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing (MLM) platforms
Gambling & Betting
- Unregulated gambling or online casinos
- Unlicensed sports betting services
- Other forms of illegal wagering
Fraud & Malware
- Malware, spyware, ransomware, or viruses
- Phishing websites or credential harvesting
- Tech support scams or fake antivirus software
- Any website designed to deceive or harm users
Hate Speech & Violence
- Content promoting violence against individuals or groups
- Hate speech targeting protected classes (race, religion, ethnicity, etc.)
- Extremist organizations or materials
- Harassment or bullying content
Other Prohibited Categories
- Child exploitation material (zero tolerance)
- Human trafficking or exploitation services
- Unauthorized surveillance or tracking products
- Products or services designed to deceive consumers
2. Creative & Landing Page Standards
Prohibited Creative Content
Pubcontext does not allow the following in advertisements or landing pages:
Misleading or Deceptive Practices
- False or misleading product claims (e.g., "Doctor-approved" without verification)
- Before-and-after imagery that misrepresents results
- Fake testimonials or reviews from non-existent customers
- Misleading urgency tactics ("Only 3 spots left!") without truth
- Bait-and-switch tactics (advertising one product, delivering another)
Inappropriate Content
- Graphic violence or gore
- Explicit sexual content or nudity
- Hateful or discriminatory content
- Content glorifying illegal activity
Technical & User Experience Issues
- Malicious redirects or unwanted downloads
- Auto-playing audio or video without user control
- Pop-ups or interstitials that prevent content access
- Slow-loading or broken landing pages
- Mobile-unfriendly experiences that impede usability
3. Compliance Standards
Industry Alignment
Pubcontext maintains compliance with the following industry standards:
- IAB Trustworthy Accountability Group (TAG) certification standards
- Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) self-regulatory principles
- Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) brand safety guidelines
- Applicable Legal Requirements: GDPR (EU), CCPA (California), DMA (Digital Markets Act), and other regional privacy laws
Data & Privacy Requirements
- No Third-Party Cookies for tracking without consent
- Transparent Data Use: Clear disclosure of what user data is collected and how it's used
- Consent Compliance: Proper consent mechanisms for processing personal data
- No Unauthorized Sharing: No selling or sharing of user data without explicit consent
- Right to Opt-Out: Users must have easy way to opt out of tracking
Prohibited Targeting Practices
- Discrimination: Targeting or excluding users based on protected characteristics (race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status, etc.)
- Predatory Targeting: Targeting vulnerable populations with exploitative offers
- Unauthorized Data: Using non-consensual personal data for targeting
- Stalking/Harassment: Targeting users based on harassment or surveillance intent
4. Performance & Monitoring
Campaign Monitoring
Pubcontext monitors all campaigns in real-time for:
- Invalid Traffic (IVT): Bot traffic, click fraud, automated fake impressions
- Suspicious Bidding Patterns: Unusual bid amounts, frequency, or timing that indicate fraud
- Creative Violations: Ads that violate content standards or mislead users
- Landing Page Issues: Broken links, malware, phishing attempts, or policy violations
- Conversion Anomalies: Unusual conversion rates or patterns indicating fraud
Performance Metrics
Campaigns must maintain acceptable performance standards:
- Invalid Traffic Rate: Below 5% (industry standard threshold)
- Viewability: Minimum 60% of measured impressions should be viewable
- Click-Through Rate: Within normal ranges for industry/vertical (flagged if >3 std dev from baseline)
- Conversion Rate: Within normal ranges (flagged if indicative of fraud)
5. Enforcement & Remediation
Violation Levels
Level 1 - Minor Violation
First-time, low-severity issue (e.g., typo in ad copy, minor creative issue)
Action: Email notification + 72-hour correction period
Example: Ad claims "lose weight fast" without substantiation
Level 2 - Moderate Violation
Repeated issues or moderate-severity violation (e.g., misleading landing page)
Action: Formal notice + 48-hour correction period; campaign pause if not resolved
Example: Landing page redirects to different product than advertised
Level 3 - Severe Violation
Serious policy breach (e.g., malware, explicit content, fraud indicators)
Action: Immediate campaign suspension pending investigation
Example: Landing page contains malware or phishing attempt
Enforcement Process
- Detection: Automated or manual monitoring identifies potential violation
- Notification: Advertiser notified with specific policy reference and required actions
- Remediation Period: 48-72 hours to correct issue (depending on severity)
- Verification: Pubcontext verifies correction and re-approves if resolved
- Escalation: If unresolved, campaign suspended and account flagged for review
6. Appeals & Dispute Resolution
Appeal Process
Advertisers may appeal enforcement actions through the following process:
- Submit Appeal: Within 14 days, provide written explanation with supporting documentation
- Review: Pubcontext compliance team reviews appeal and supporting evidence
- Decision: Decision provided within 10 business days
- Implementation: If appeal successful, account restored; if denied, decision is final
7. Questions & Support
For questions about these guidelines or to report violations:
- Email: compliance@pubcontext.com
- Support Portal: https://support.pubcontext.com
Document Control
- Version: 1.0
- Effective Date: Jan 1, 2026
- Last Reviewed: Jan 1, 2026
- Next Review: May 1, 2026
- Owner: Pubcontext Compliance Team