Google Tests More Conversational Ads in Search and Expands `Direct Offers` Pilot

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• #0001

  #0001ASO & growthSimon Willison14 hours ago

  FTC fines `Active Listening` ad sellers for false AI voice-targeting claims

  40radar

  Active ListeningAI ad service — sanctioned for voice-targeting claims

  The service sold microphone-based intent targeting, but actually resold brokered email lists. Treat AI ad-tech claims as compliance risk before copying the pitch.

  • —CMG, MindSift, and 1010 Digital Works settle FTC charges for nearly $1M over deceptive Active Listening marketing.
  • —The sold capability did not use voice data or listen through smart devices; delivery was marked-up data-broker email lists.
  • —Ad buyers were also misled on local targeting accuracy. Growth tooling claims need proof, not just AI wording.

  Source: simonwillison.net/2026/May/22/ftc-active-listening/#atomRead original →
• #0002

  #0002ASO & growthGeekNews18 hours ago

  `AEO` and `GEO` for AI-Native Search Visibility

  50radar

  Search exposure is shifting from ranked links to AI-read source pages. Sites need answer-ready pages that tools can cite, so this is a practical growth checklist, not SEO trivia.

  • —Search results are becoming source pages read by AI, not just link lists; page structure now affects whether answers cite you.
  • —AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini all reference live web pages; public docs and landing pages become acquisition surfaces.
  • —AEO targets citation inside direct-answer engines. Clear answers, canonical facts, and quotable sections matter more than keyword stuffing.

  Source: news.hada.io/topic?id=29752Read original →
• #0003

  #0003ASO & growthApple Developer News23 hours ago

  `App Store` age ratings change in Australia and Vietnam on June 18, 2026

  100radar

  Regional compliance now reaches product-page ratings. Apps with web access, medical info, loot boxes, or Vietnam distribution need questionnaire checks before release risk grows.

  • —Australia removes the 15+ rating from the local App Store; affected apps move to 16+ on product pages.
  • —Current 15+ apps with unrestricted web access, frequent medical/treatment info, or loot boxes are the direct migration targets.
  • —Vietnam requires a region-specific rating: 00+, 12+, 16+, or 18+, generated from App Store Connect questionnaire answers.
  • —App Store Connect details arrive on June 18, 2026; audit questionnaire answers before metadata or launch plans drift.

  Source: developer.apple.com/news/?id=yrrb45pwRead original →