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Pro-life Christian charity to sue Google over rejected AdWords
A Christian charity is filing a lawsuit against Google after the search engine refused to display its pro-life adverts alongside searches for the word ‘abortion’.
In March the Christian Institute tried to buy a pay-per-click Google AdWords advert that would bring up information on abortion laws and a link to the charity’s homepage every time a user searched for ‘abortion’.
Google had originally approached the charity about placing an advert through the scheme. But when the Institute tried to bid for the Adword, it was told Google had a policy of declining adverts that mixed the subjects of abortion and religious views, and the request was refused.
Filing papers this week
The Christian Institute is now filing papers against the internet giant under the British Equality Act 2006, which guards against the discrimination of groups based on their religious views.
In a letter to Google, lawyers for the charity said the Christian Institute was being treated less favourably than others on the grounds of their beliefs.
Law firm Aughton Ainsworth cited pro-abortion group Reality Check who can advertise on the abortion link. The lawyers also pointed out that organisations could advertise ‘anti-religious T-shirts’ as a link to the Google search word ‘secular’.
Mike Judge, a spokesman for the Christian Institute, said: “If there is going to be a free exchange of ideas then Google cannot give special free speech rights to secular groups whilst censoring religious views.
“To say that religious sites with material on abortion are ‘unacceptable content’ while advertising pornography is ridiculous.”
A Google spokesman said: “Both pro and anti-abortion ads are allowed on Google. However, Google policy does not permit the advertisement of websites that deal with abortion or abortion services in conjunction with religion-related concepts.
Emotive subject
“We recognise that this is a very emotive subject and that people have strong views on both sides of the argument. Google takes no view on this issue one way or the other as a company.”
The Christian Institute had hoped to promote its pro-life adverts in anticipation of a House of Commons vote next month on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
If passed, the legislation would allow the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos for medical research by providing changes to the regulation and licensing of the use of embryos in research and therapy.
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Alan Hewerdine
16 Apr 2008
It does seem to be an increasing trend that, in a day when there is ever more legislation to outlaw discrimination against people of the grounds of ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, and age, the one area where discrimination is alive and kicking is over religion. If Google claim that both pro and anti-abortion ads are allowed, how do they justify discrimination on the basis of the underlying belief system of the people placing the ads. Having said that, I'm not sure that taking legal action is the best way to persuade them of the unfairness of their stance. I suspect it will only galvanise opposition to the pro-life views of the Christian Institute and thus be counter-productive.
I should stress that these are personal views and not the necessarily the 'official' position of the organisation for which I work.
John Davies
16 Apr 2008
Whilst I agree that Google refusing CI's ad is discriminatory and could be considered grounds for action under anti-discrimination legislation, in this instance Google have taken the correct decision. They make the point that if they were to allow CI's advert, it would mean having to accept pro-abortion material to appear in the results of searches on religion-related concepts.
Ruth Matthews
Development Manager
Kings Arms Project
16 Apr 2008
Free speech is losing currency - even for views you dislike the right to say them needs to be maintained. Whatever side of the debate you come down on, the right for both parties to have their say needs to be protected. Both pro-abortion and anti-abortion have a right to advertise.
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G R TAYLOR
26 Apr 2008
if you value free speech you have to accept that people have views discordant with your own. Google has shown its true colours here and failed.
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