Google to ban essay-writing adverts

Internet giant Google is to ban adverts for essay-writing firms that target university students who are prepared to pay other people to do their coursework.

University leaders welcomed the decision and warned that plagiarism devalues the hard work of honest students who write their essays themselves.

But one essay-writing company criticised the ban as unfair, arguing that it will penalise legitimate businesses that help students fairly.

Google has written to advertisers to tell them that from June this year it will no longer take adverts from firms that sell essays. A Google spokesperson told the BBC News website that the ban was expected to apply across the company's global network.

Professor Drummond Bone, president of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, welcomed the move.

"Making life harder for these cynical web 'essay mills' is a step in the right direction," he said.

"We feel strongly about this because plagiarism devalues the efforts of students who work hard to achieve their degrees. It also damages the student who commits plagiarism, as they will not benefit from the research and learning experience. Tackling plagiarism and cheating is of course an issue for individual higher education institutions.

"But the sector as a whole will surely welcome all attempts to help curb the growth of these websites."

But one company criticised the ban as unfair. Matthew Wilson, managing director of Essaywriter.co.uk, said legitimate firms would suffer even though they warn students not to use such essays dishonestly.

He criticised Google's "blanket ban" on all services for writing and researching essays - even those such as Essaywriter.co.uk which have strict rules to counter plagiarism.

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