Google Censors Irish Pro-Lifers

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Google is silencing pro-life Irishmen ahead of their country's national vote on abortion.

On May 8, social media giant, Facebook, began blocking foreign pro-life ads that discussed Ireland's Eighth Amendment, which protects the unborn. Google followed suit, suspending all ads — foreign and domestic — related to the referendum.

Google also extended its ban to YouTube, which it owns. The search giant says censorship in Ireland is part of its Global effort to ensure election integrity around the world.

Cora Sherlock, head of the Irish pro-life organization LoveBoth, called out Google for censoring Irish citizens in their own democratic process.

"This censorship by a powerful internet company undermines our democracy and damages free speech," said Sherlock.

Peter Tanham, media manager with the pro-abortion group Together For Yes, disagrees, saying Google's censorship applies to both sides equally. But David Quinn, director of the pro-life Iona Institute, noted Ireland's mainstream media already caters to pro-abortion causes, adding, "It is an outrageous and disproportionate decision to simply ban all referendum ads. This very important platform has been denied to us."

Without social media, the likelihood of pro-lifers changing enough hearts before the vote May 25 seems doubtful.

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