Google has reached settlement with the Christian Institute after the internet giant blocked an anti-abortion ad.
The move has been taken as the result of the court action and other representations made to Google in recent months and is being seen as setting a new benchmark for advertisers.
Google has been forced to review its AdWords policy and, as a result, the Christian Institute and other religious associations will be permitted to place ads on the subject of abortion in a “factual and campaigning way”.
“The new policy will apply world-wide 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,” said a spokesperson for the Christian Institute.
In March 2008 The Christian Institute tried to place an ad with AdWords “UK abortion law: Key views and news on abortion law from The Christian Institute. christian.org.uk.”
The ad was rejected by Google for reasons of “inappropriate content” in conflict with its policy of not advertising sites which combined “abortion and religion-related content”.
In April 2008 lawyers acting for The Christian Institute launched a legal action against Google under the Equality Act 2006 which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion in the provision of a good or service.
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