Google settles out of court in abortion ad row

by Dan Leahul, Brand Republic 17-Sep-08, 11:00

LONDON - Anti-abortion religious groups will be allowed to place campaigning ads on Google's search engine after an out of court settlement was reached between the internet giant and a Christian charity.

In April the anti-abortion Christian Institute, a UK-based Christian charity, drafted an ad for use on Google's search engine which read 'UK abortion law: Key views and news on abortion law from the Christian Institute.'

Google did not display the ad because a policy within AdWords, Google's advertising platform, blocked advertising of sites that mixed "abortion and religion-related content".

Subsequently the Christian Institute launched legal action against Google under the Equality Act 2006, which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion in the provision of a good or service.

A settlement was reached yesterday and as a result Google has reviewed its AdWords policy to enable the institute and other religious associations to place ads on the subject of abortion in a factual and campaigning way.

In a statement the Christian Institute said: "The new policy will apply worldwide with immediate effect. This is an important issue of free speech and religious liberty and we are pleased with Google's constructive response to this matter."

A spokesperson for Google said "The issue of abortion is an emotive subject and Google does not take a particular side. Over the last few months we have received a number of representations about our abortion ads policy and we decided to conduct a review to make sure it was fair, up to date and consistent with local customs and practices.

"Following the review we have decided to amend our policy, creating a level playing field and enable religious associations to place ads on abortion in a factual way."

The Christian Institute has an anti-abortion stance and says on its website that it believes in "human personhood".

It says: "There are enormous practical implications which flow from this belief. Not only is abortion wrong, but also any practice which deliberately destroys human embryos. This includes human cloning and the use of drugs which prevent the implantation of an embryo."