Google and HUD team up to end housing discrimination
June 15, 2020
In today’s Daily Download episode, HousingWire Digital Producer Alcynna Lloyd discusses Google’s recent announcement that the company will now make it impossible for lenders and Realtors to target consumers based on ZIP code and other demographics.
For some background on the story, here’s a summary of the article:
Google announced it is tightening its policies, prohibiting employment, housing and credit advertisers from targeting or excluding ads based on certain demographics and ZIP codes.
The company explained that it has long prohibited advertisers from targeting users based on “sensitive categories” related to their identity, beliefs, sexuality or personal hardships. This means the company doesn’t allow targeting based on categories like race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.
But now, Google is adding several new categories to that list to improve access to housing, employment and credit opportunities.
The new policy will prohibit impacted advertisers from targeting or excluding ads based on gender, age, parental status, marital status or ZIP code. The company expects these changes to take effect by the end of 2020.
Google stated that it plans to continue working with HUD, civil rights and housing experts and the broader advertising industry to address concerns around discrimination in ad targeting.
Following the main story, HousingWire covers data from Black Knight that indicates U.S. mortgage forbearances declined last week for the second consecutive week, along with an announcement that Ithaca, New York has become the first city in the U.S. to cancel rent payments in response to COVID-19.
The Daily Download examines the most captivating articles reported from the HousingWire newsroom. Each afternoon, HousingWire provides its readers with a deeper look into the stories that are not only chronicling the biggest announcements within the housing finance industry but are also helping Move Markets Forward. Hosted by the HW team and produced by Alcynna Lloyd.
HousingWire articles covered in this episode:
