When women search for terms related to pregnancy and abortion, Google ads that lead to anti-abortion policy pages appear prominently with text styles similar to actual search results.
In Great Britain, a woman can legally have an abortion up to 24 weeks if two doctors sign that continuing the pregnancy would endanger her physical or mental health. This provision was provided in the 1967 Act.
A report published this weekend revealed that 117 of the 251 ads Google shows in the UK to people searching for phrases such as “public abortion advice”, “confidential abortion help” and “pregnant teen help” are from anti-conservative groups. Termination of pregnancy.
These ads appear in searches on the websites of official British government services for help and advice for pregnant women.
On the side of one of these groups, emphasis is placed on toll-free phone numbers that promise to offer counseling, without making it clear that an activist on the other end of the line will be willing to convince the woman to continue with the pregnancy. For example, the Pregnancy Crisis Helpline group website displays the message on its front page: “Are you having trouble with your pregnancy? We’re here to help. Call us.”
According to the report, the site is coordinated by a right-wing evangelical organization campaigning for a ban on abortion in the United Kingdom.
In response to journalists, Google says that the ads listed contain the “advertising” tag and do not violate the site’s rules.
