We all know that internet search engines can be heavily influenced by money, traffic tricks and ideological bias ,but this story from yesterday's Daily Mail (U.K.) revals just how bad things are over at Google.The story concerns a lawsuit being brought by British pro-life advocates against Google for violating the Equality Act by discriminating against Christian groups. And whether or not they can get the courts to step in and stop this injustice (we also all know how courts work), these pro-life citizens have already performed an important service; namely, to boldly illustrate to the public just how uneven the playing field is when it comes to abortion.
The Christian Institute wanted to pay Google so that when the word “abortion” was typed into the search engine, a link to a web page on its views popped up on the right hand side of the screen. The link would have read: “UK abortion law - news and views on abortion from the Christian Institute”, and users could click on it to access the website.
However, Google has a policy of declining sites which mix topics like abortion with religious views and it refused the request. A spokesman for Google advertising said: “At this time, Google policy does not permit the advertisement of websites that contain abortion and religion-related content.”
Google does, however, accept adverts for abortion clinics, secular pro-abortion sites and secularist sites which attack religion.
The Christian Institute has started legal action against Google on the grounds that it is infringing the Equality Act 2006 by discriminating against Christian groups.
The charity will argue that Google accepts adverts for abortion clinics, secular pro-abortion sites and secularist sites which attack religion. It wants damages, costs and permission to display the advert.
A spokesman for the Christian Institute, Mike Judge, said: “For many people, Google is the doorway to the internet. “If there is going to be a free exchange of ideas then Google cannot give special free speech rights to secular groups whilst censoring religious views. To say that religious sites with material on abortion are 'unacceptable content’ while advertising pornography is ridiculous.”
Ann Widdecombe MP, a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, supports the group in its plight. She said: “It does seem to me to be the most appalling and blatant case of religious discrimination.” The Christian Institute had hoped to advertise its online articles on pro-life issues ahead of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill arriving in the House of Commons next month.
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