Google removes NSFW app XShorts from Play Store after ads scandal: Report

Google has removed the adult short video app XShorts from its Play Store after an Adweek report revealed that the platform—despite carrying a “Teen” rating—was hosting sexually suggestive and racially offensive content, while also running ads from major brands including Verizon, Shell, and Amazon.

XShorts, a short-form video app similar to TikTok, had been trending among the top five apps on the Play Store this week. However, the app’s misclassification allowed it to sidestep typical ad safety controls, exposing top brands to reputational…