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I’ve recently come across this article about Google Inc. issuing an AdWords advertising policy update stating it would no longer accept ads that promote abortion services in the following fifteen countries: Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Spain and Taiwan.
Various women’s organisations have contacted Google to ask for the rationale behind this policy change. Rebecca Gomperts, Joanna Erdman and Susan Newell stated in their letter to Google (in which they were representing various human rights organisations)that they were worried about “the adverse effect of the [policy] on women seeking safe and lawful abortion services due to restricting access to information.” They argued that such restrictions “may contribute to unsafe abortion in a manner inconsistent with human rights principles,” and pointed out that Google Inc. “plays an important role in the protection of human rights.”
Although I assume Google is complying with the local laws in the 15 different countries, Newell makes a great point, stating that “an absolute prohibition on abortion service advertisements is unnecessary and inconsistent with the Google AdWords’ general policy on advertisements that are subject to legal regulation. The general policy states that it is the responsibility of the advertiser (not Google AdWords) to ensure that its advertisements are in full compliance with the applicable domestic law.” Basically, she’s saying that those submitting the ads, and not Google, should be screening to see if they are acting within legal compliance and Google shouldn’t have to make a blanket decision.
Nowhere could I find an official explanation or comment from Google on why this decision has been taken, but pro-abortion activist Lori Adelman corresponded with a staff member at Google who is reported to have said: “I can share that we conducted the review and made the change to ensure our policy was fair, up-to-date, consistent with local laws and codes of practice," the staffer said.
Once again, it appears that paternalism is stepping into family planning and a woman’s right to have all the information she needs, as accessible as possible, when determining the outcome of her own right to choose. What criteria did Google use to choose these countries? And why is Google picking a side anyway?
In SA there are search results for abortion and family planning service, but interestingly, no AdWords.
Do you think Google is breaking its own ‘do no evil’ code, by effectively restricting access to abortion planning information in these 15 countries? Or do you think Google is on the right track, and should in fact extend the ban... and if so, what other sectors do you think should be restricted?
