Violating terms of advertising on Google Fatwa No: 351295
- Fatwa Date:1-7-2017
If we earn through advertisement through google but somehow intentionally violate Google's policies and terms in a way that Google does not know about it, will that earning be halal? I am talking about a minor violation of terms like, for example, Google does not want us to advertise directly to the affiliate link; we should first make a landing page, and then when a customer clicks that affiliate link, it takes him to that site. If the customer buys there, we get our commission, and if he does not buy, we get no commission. With my method, we direct the customers directly to the affiliate website. Is this fair given that Google also has many bad things?
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
If Google requires certain conditions to advertise through it, then it is obligatory to abide by these conditions for those who want to deal through this site, and it is not permissible to breach these conditions.
The Muslim should fulfil the conditions if they are permissible.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet said, “The Muslims should abide by their conditions.” [Abu Daawood]
Cheating and deceit are not among the morals of the Muslims.
The recommendations of the European Council for Iftaa’, in its seventeenth session read, "...acting to improve the image of Islam and the Muslims by adhering to the values of Islam and its great principles, and to establish programs that introduce Islam and its civilizational values…"
The issue that Google includes bad things does not prevent from dealing with it or through it in what is permissible, and this does not affect the permissibility of what you earn from advertising [through them] and of directing the customers provided that what you guide the customers to is permissible. For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 334582 and 343570.
If violating the terms and conditions of Google leads them to miss a benefit or causes the loss of a right for the owners of the site, then one has to guarantee their rights and fulfill them for them. It is the people of experience and specialization in this area who would estimate and determine that for what has already passed.
As for the future, then one has to abide by the permissible terms and conditions and stop deceiving if he wishes to continue working through the mentioned site.
Allah knows best.