Telstra uses misleading AdSense ads to try to cash in on iPhone hype

Telstra has obviously paid big dollars for the keyword "iphone" on the Australian Google site, nothing wrong there, except the ads are misleading (and in breach of Google AdSense policy).

There is also nothing new about competitors buying ads for keywords covering rival or even just related products. In this case Tesltra is placing an ad for Next G Network Prepaid - they report some features of their plan and display a URL of www.telstra.com.au/Iphone. Now it is not unusual that the exact URL in an ad is not the URL that you land on, however in this case the URL is not even valid. This is a breach of AdSense policy, and it is so clearly created to deceive you, which possibly is a breach of Australian Trade Practices Act.

"In the ACCC's view everyone involved in the preparation and broadcasting or publication of misleading or deceptive advertising is in potential breach of the Trade Practice Act 1974".


Google Policy:

Display URL must be accurate.

• Your display URL must accurately reflect the URL of the website you're advertising. It should match the domain of your landing page so users will know which site they'll be taken to when they click on your ad.
• If your actual destination URL link is too long to use as your display URL, use a shortened version (such as your homepage) that meets the character limit for this field.

Example:
Destination URL: http://www.shoesforsale.com/ladiesshoes/highheels.html
Display URL: www.shoesforsale.com

• The display URL field cannot be used as another line of ad text.
• Your display URL must include the domain extension, for example: .com.au, .net.au, or .org.au