Search Engine Optimization News Blog

Google being the leader in online advertising meets both bouquets and stones. Being a leading industry player does not protect Google in anyway. It is all the more vulnerable to criticisms and consumers’ dissatisfaction. Lately Google changed their advertising policy after they were sued by a Christian group.

One of the Christian institutions that is based in the UK sued Google for discrimination in terms of religion. Based on this Google reviewed its advertising policies and made amendments to its policy on advertising. The Christian Institute runs www.christian.org.uk and one of the Adwords ad by this group in Google was rejected by Google’s Adwords system. The Christian Institute tried to make an announcement on the title, “UK Abortion Law: Key Views and News on Abortion law from The Christian Institute www.christian.org.co.uk sometime during last March. The Christian Institute was not allowed to post this advert based on their original policy that did not allow any advertisements that are related to abortion and religion.

This triggered legal action from The Christian Institute; this group argued that they are discriminated based on religion and Google’s decision violated the Equality Act 2006 which does not allow discrimination in any form in providing goods or services.

Google’s spokes person said that Google does not have any specific stand on abortion and it is an emotive subject. However, Google has been reviewing their policy on their advertisement policy on abortion.  Google is making efforts to make its abortion ads policy more “fair, up-to-day and consistent with the local customs and practices.” Google has to take care that it does not offend the legal system as well as the sentiments of people. Since cultures are different and so are practices from place to place so keeping tab of all these in its advertisement policy is a great challenge.

The lawsuit by The Christian Institute has brought them victory and a general policy change in terms of abortion. Google will star allowing abortion related ads by religious entities including The Christian Institute. This revision comes into effect immediately and this will be applied to worldwide ads. Though the issue started with a law suit, Google resolved the problem in a more amicable way outside the walls of the court.

Looking at the matter little closely, it looks like that The Christian Institute which has pledged to safeguard the sanctity of life right from conception might regret for this policy change. The revised policy will allow ads on abortion from religious entities. So there is a possibility that competing ads on abortion may be displayed side by side, it is possible. Ads that promote abortion and ads that reject abortion might be served side by side.

One of the points that has to be remembered by the advertisers is that the ads on abortion should be based facts and they should not paint a religious picture to this topic while. So condemning abortion on religious or moral grounds would not find  place in Adwords campaign.