US lawmakers call on Google to label or limit search results for ‘fake’ abortion clinics

A gaggle of US lawmakers has signed off on a letter to Google that urges the corporate to reevaluate its therapy of search outcomes that direct customers to anti-abortion disaster facilities somewhat than respectable clinics, as first reported by Reuters. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Consultant Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) are main the initiative, whereas a number of different Democratic lawmakers have signed the letter in assist.

The letter cites analysis printed by the Middle for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), which focuses on Google search leads to “set off regulation states” — or the 13 states the place abortion will turn out to be unlawful if the Supreme Court docket overturns Roe v. Wade. Analysis signifies that 11 p.c of Google searches in set off regulation states for “abortion clinic close to me” and “abortion tablet” convey customers to “faux” clinics that attempt to dissuade girls from having an abortion. The issue is much more pronounced on Google Maps, because the CCDH discovered that 37 p.c of abortion-related map searches led to faux clinics.

Of their letter to Google, lawmakers ask the search large if it is going to restrict or label these sorts of outcomes going ahead. “Directing girls in direction of faux clinics that site visitors in misinformation and don’t present complete well being companies is harmful to girls’s well being and undermines the integrity of Google’s search outcomes,” the letter reads. “If Google should proceed displaying these deceptive leads to search outcomes and Google Maps, the outcomes ought to, on the very least, be appropriately labeled.”

Advertisements on Google additionally look like affected by the difficulty — in accordance with the CCDH, nearly 28 p.c of adverts showing on the high of search outcome pages for abortion-related queries pertained to anti-choice clinics. In 2019, Google began requiring corporations operating abortion adverts to certify whether or not or not they supply abortions. For corporations that don’t really carry out the process, Google locations a “Doesn’t present abortions” disclaimer beneath the advert, however the CCDH notes some customers could not at all times discover it.

“Any group that desires to promote to individuals in search of details about abortion companies on Google should be licensed and present in-ad disclosures that clearly state whether or not they do or don’t supply abortions,” Google spokesperson Nicolas Lopez mentioned in an emailed assertion to The Verge. “We’re at all times taking a look at methods to enhance our outcomes to assist individuals discover what they’re searching for, or perceive if what they’re searching for will not be accessible.”

The Supreme Court docket is predicted to announce its determination relating to Roe v. Wade within the coming days, however a leaked draft determination obtained by Politico might imply the Court docket plans on overturning the landmark ruling. In preparation for the upcoming determination, one other group of Democratic lawmakers can also be urging Google to cease amassing location information from Android customers, as this data might doubtlessly be used to prosecute somebody who has obtained an abortion in a state that opposes the process.