Head of Google Europe apologises over ads on extremist content

Matt Brittin says company 'needs to do more' but declines to say whether it will actively seek out inappropriate material

Google's European chief has publicly apologised after online adverts for major brands appeared next to extremist material, but declined to say whether the company would begin actively seeking out such content and taking action against it.

Matt Brittin, Google's head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, told the Advertising Week Europe conference in London on Monday: "I want to start by saying sorry to the brands affected by this. I take the issue very seriously and I apologise in the instances where that may have happened."