Google Ads search returning millions of incorrect objects

[dhmitc...@gmail.com]

When I send this query via the ads api, I get back millions of keywords. The thing is, this account is a remarketing account and when I look in the web console, it has no keywords. When I hand checked 99 of the returned keywords, they were from another account(s) and our DB thought they were deleted. Getting back millions of interlopers makes me concerned that I'm getting back similar interlopers on the accounts which do have keywords. Can someone investigate and explain?

SELECT ad_group.id, ad_group_criterion.criterion_id, ad_group_criterion.keyword.text, ad_group_criterion.keyword.match_type, ad_group_criterion.status, ad_group_criterion.cpc_bid_micros, ad_group_criterion.quality_info.quality_score, ad_group_criterion.approval_status

FROM ad_group_criterion

WHERE customer.id = <REDACTED> 

    and ad_group_criterion.type = KEYWORD 

    and ad_group_criterion.status != 'REMOVED'

=> Found 4104310 keywords

​Passing <REDACTED> ​as the customer id in the query header too. (I'm happy to provide the value for <REDACTED> to any Google employee directly)

Don Mitchell

Sr. Prin SW Arch

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Don,

Thanks for reaching out. We see that you replied privately to us. We can resolve this issue on the other thread as it may contain sensitive information. 

Regards,
Matt
Google Ads API Team

Matt Google Ads API Team

ref:_00D1U1174p._5004Q2HLS9Z:ref

[dhmitc...@gmail.com]

To summarize for anyone who cares, the issue was that there are 4million keywords whose status is not 'REMOVED' which which exist under removed ad groups &/or campaigns. i.e, a keyword doesn't inherit its state as the min of its and its parent hierarchy.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor]

Hi Don,

Thanks for summarizing your issue on the public forum.