Google has reversed a decision that saw Australia’s largest abortion provider MSI Australia blocked from running advertising on the search giant, despite their services being legal in Australia.
MSI Australia estimates the ban, which was enforced from December 3, impacted between 700 to 1500 people per week.
It has been reported the ban was enforced by Google when it interpreted the mention of medical abortions on MSI Australia’s website as promoting abortion-inducing drugs. That is despite the drugs not being named on the website.
In Australia, Google does not allow prescription medication, including abortion-inducing drugs, to be advertised. However, medical services like abortion clinics are allowed to promote themselves. One of the ads banned by Google was for: “Telehealth abortion clinic, supportive & caring staff”.
After pressure from MSI Australia, Google determined the abortion provider’s website was compliant with requirements, and the ads were reinstated.
Before Google’s reversal of the ban, MSI Australia’s CEO Jamal Hakim said it had restricted people from accessing timely and critical information they need about abortion services.
“It’s like Groundhog Day,” Hakim said in a statement. “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.”
Hakim pointed out that when Google bans the promotion of health information about abortion, anti-choice organisation often runs ads in place.
“Abortion is not readily available in public hospitals and it is difficult to find abortion service providers due to historical stigma,” he said.
“When Google bans promoting health information about abortion, anti-choice organisations ads often run in place, providing inaccurate information and unsupportive traumatising advice.”
Fiona Gerrard, MSI Australia’s Director of Nursing and Head of Risk and Safety, said the ban had inhibited people’s ability to access abortion care, and contributed to a “bottleneck” on health waitlists.
“Our services provide women and pregnant people with a supportive, compassionate and confidential environment to discuss their pregnancy options,” she said.
“We assist people in deciding what procedure is suitable, depending on health history, personal preferences and their pregnancy details.”
Gerrard said MSI Australia delivers a large portion of Australia’s abortion services, and the ban meant women and pregnant people had reduced access to information about accessing abortion.
“This is likely impacting between 700 to 1500 people per week across all providers across the country. The week before Christmas is a highly problematic time and will create a bottleneck on health waitlists.”
Before reversing the ban, Google had said it was working with MSI Australia to “clarify some minor amendments” on their website that would enable them to runs ads again.
Greens Senator Larissa Waters, who asked Google to reverse its ad ban, said she would push for a representative from Google to appear at the upcoming Senate inquiry into reproductive health access.