Programmer Faces Charges Over ‘Clicks’ Invention

LOS ANGELES – A Southern California computer programmer faces federal extortion charges of threatening to unleash a software program that would have disrupted a Google advertising program by automating fraudulent “clicks.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California said that 32-year-old Michael Anthony Bradley had demanded $100,000 from Google Inc. to stop him from releasing the program he claimed would allow spammers to defraud Google of millions of dollars.

Bradley of Oak Park, Calif., disputed the allegations Friday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, telling the court that extortion was not his intent. He was released on a $50,000 appearance bond on the condition that he not use computers or try to contact Google and its employees.

Bradley told XBiz Monday that all he was trying to do was help Google’s business.

“I never tried to cause harm [to Google] – there was never that intent,” he said. “I told them that all I was trying to do was tighten up their system.”

Charged with interfering with commerce by threats or violence and mail fraud, Bradley attempted to defraud and extort money from Google by developing a software program that automates fraudulent “clicks” on “cost-per-click” advertisements utilized by Google, according to the criminal complaint. These fraudulent clicks, in turn, were designed to cause Google to make payments that were supposed to be made only for “clicks” made by legitimate Web surfers.

Mountain View, Calif.-based Google provides search technology and places advertisements on sites run by others. It pays the site owners based on the number of times users click on Google-placed ads.

The complaint alleges that Bradley first sent an email requesting a meeting with Google concerning his software program, which he named “Google Clique,” in early March.

In a subsequent face-to-face meeting with Google engineers on March 10, Bradley performed a demonstration of his program and claimed that it generated false clicks that look like real Internet traffic and were untraceable, the complaint says.

The defendant allegedly stated that he would sell it to the “top 100 spammers” if Google did not pay him $100,000, forcing Google to be “out $5 million in six months.”

Bradley, who was recorded by federal agents of the San Francisco Electronic Crimes Task Force, said the public release of his program would “destroy Google,” the complaint said.

The computer programmer told XBiz that he owns a web-hosting company and that the conditions by the court to not use any computer are devastating.

“I have no income now,” he said. “The Secret Service took all my computers and servers out of my home. And if I needed to find work, I couldn’t be able to use a computer.”

Bradley, who could face 40 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500,000, is scheduled to appear again in U.S. District Court in San Jose on April 8.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More