UltraViolet Says New Consumer Notices on Google Maps for Fake Abortion Clinics is “Productive First Step,” But More Action Needed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 29, 2022
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com
UltraViolet Says New Consumer Notices on Google Maps for Fake Abortion Clinics is “Productive First Step,” But More Action Needed
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Last week, Google announced that its “search” and “map” functions will start including consumer notices that fake abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) “might not provide abortions.”
Google’s decision comes after consumer review website Yelp’s decision to differentiate crisis pregnancy centers from abortion clinics notifying users that CPCs “typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite.”
In response, Shaunna Thomas, executive director of UltraViolet, a national gender justice organization, issued the following statement:
“After months of public pressure from abortion rights groups and advocacy organizations like UltraViolet, Google has finally decided to flag that phony abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers ‘may not’ provide abortions. While this is a productive first step, it’s clear more action is needed.
“Google needs to stop profiting from and running ads for fake clinics once and for all, and to stop populating fake clinics and crisis pregnancy centers on its search functions for people seeking abortion care or reproductive health services. Advertisements that spread disinformation about reproductive healthcare, including coercive tactics that restrict patients from accessing abortion, is exacerbating the public health crisis that that has only grown since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June.
“Tech giants like Google have the power and responsibility to inform their users with medically accurate information. We can recognize this is progress”
Since 2015, UltraViolet has helped lead efforts authoring coalition letters, running ads, hosting petitions, and spearheading organizing efforts to urge that Google remove CPC and fake abortion clinic ads from its search engine.
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