Christian Game Developers Seek Review of Google and TikTok Ad Policies

Christian game developers are urging Congress to examine the advertising policies of Google and TikTok, claiming their ads are frequently rejected despite being meant for general audiences and family-friendly themes.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) recently sent a letter to Congress on behalf of TruPlay Games, requesting an investigation into the enforcement of advertising rules by both companies.

TruPlay has reportedly encountered numerous ad rejections since the beginning of 2023, including ads that were not specifically targeted based on religious views.

CEO Brent Duesing explained to FOX Business, “This happens repeatedly to many individuals.” He noted that sometimes he faced multiple rejections within a single week.

TruPlay Games develops Bible-themed video games aimed at children and families, such as “King David’s Battles” and “Chirp Song: Words of Praise.”

Duesing mentioned the company’s goal is to provide families with entertainment that reflects Christian values and Biblical narratives.

TruPlay started placing ads on Google in 2023 and on TikTok in January 2024. Duesing observed that issues with Google began shortly after they launched their ads, while TikTok’s rejections intensified more rapidly in 2025.

The ACLJ indicated in its letter that TruPlay’s ads were denied under Google’s guidelines for “religious beliefs in personalized ads,” although those ads were targeting a broader audience, including parents and gamers, not just individuals identified by their religious beliefs.

Despite making multiple revisions to the wording—eliminating terms like “Christianity” and “Bible”—TruPlay’s ads continued to face rejections.

Duesing pointed out that ads initially branded as “Christian Games for Kids” or “Safe Bible Games for Kids” still got flagged even after adjustments were made.

“Our target was a general audience, families, and parents, not specifically those oriented by religious views,” Duesing stressed.

The impact of losing access to advertising on these platforms has been “devastating” for TruPlay, as both Google and TikTok constitute a large segment of digital advertising for many businesses.

“When you lose these platforms, you lose a tremendous opportunity to connect with your audience,” he stated.

He added that TruPlay has had success promoting its ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X without experiencing similar challenges.

Meanwhile, TikTok has taken action by permanently suspending TruPlay’s advertising account, citing “repeated violations,” according to the ACLJ. One rejection example mentioned in the letter involved an ad containing the word “church.”

Another instance showed an ad being rejected due to a preview image in Apple’s App Store depicting a cartoon representation of Jesus.

The ACLJ stated it has yet to hear back from Congress regarding this matter.

In a recent blog post, ACLJ Senior Counsel Nathan Molker emphasized the necessity for Congress to investigate discriminatory advertising policies against faith-based organizations.

Additionally, the ACLJ referenced a recent communication from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, which criticized Google’s removal of the Great American Family Network from YouTube TV, highlighting broader concerns over Big Tech’s enforcement of content and advertising policies.

Duesing noted the problems are largely due to automated content management systems: “These decisions aren’t made by humans who can understand nuance; they’re dictated by algorithms.”

A Google spokesperson clarified that religious content is permissible on their platforms and that the policies against targeting based on sensitive information, like religious beliefs, are consistently applied.

Moreover, Google pointed out that TruPlay ads did run in November, including some featuring religious language.

As for TikTok, they have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the ACLJ’s claims or the specifics of their advertising policies concerning religious content.