News: Google bans essay writing adverts

[Tomi Engdahl]

Google bans essay writing adverts
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/educ ... 680457.stm

"Google is to ban adverts for essay writing services - following claims that plagiarism is threatening the integrity of university degrees."

"There have been complaints from universities about students being sold customised essays on the internet."

"From next month, Google will no longer take adverts from companies which sell essays and dissertations - and the internet company has written to advertisers to tell them about the policy."

"Google's forthcoming ban on adverts for "academic paper-writing services and the sale of pre-written essays, theses, and dissertations" means that essay websites join a blacklist of "unacceptable content" including adverts for weapons, prostitution, drugs, tobacco, fake documents and "miracle cures"."

"The move has been applauded by universities which have struggled with the problem of students dishonestly submitting material copied from the internet."

"The universities organisation says that in particular there have been difficulties with essays bought by students from companies which sell tailor-made answers, where fees can be up to £5,000 for a single piece of extended work.
There have been reports of up to 12,000 essays being sold to students in a year, says Universities UK."