Abortion and contraceptive provider MSI Australia has said that Google has banned its adverts in search results over a misinterpretation of Australian law.
Since 3 December, the provider said that Google has prevented it from using Search ads. It also said that Google had placed a wide-ranging ban on advertising links to the MSI website.
According to The Guardian, Google might have misinterpreted mentions of medical abortions on the MSI Australia website as promoting abortion-inducing drugs despite the drugs themselves not being names on the site.
“We have longstanding policies that govern abortion-related ads on Google’s platforms,” a Google spokesperson said.
“Abortion advertisements can run in Australia as long as the advertiser is certified. However, under local legal requirements, abortion-inducing drugs are not allowed to be marketed or promoted.”
The spokesperson also added that a review had identified wording on the MSI website that might run contrary to Google’s rules.
“After reviewing the ads in question, we are working intently with the advertiser to clarify some minor amendments that will enable them to run policy compliant ads again as soon as possible,” they said.
“It’s like Groundhog Day, Google has yet again enforced a blanket ban of abortion campaigns in Australia,” said MSI Australia managing director Jamal Hakim.
“We are sick and tired of advertising policies being misinterpreted and restricting the ability of people to find accurate and compassionate information about abortion. Abortion is legal in Australia but it is not easily accessible. Google’s ban is restricting abortion access.”
