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| Google bans abortion poll ads in Ireland | Google bans abortion poll ads in Ireland |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Google will ban all advertisements relating to Republic of Ireland's forthcoming referendum on abortion, which takes place on 25 May. | Google will ban all advertisements relating to Republic of Ireland's forthcoming referendum on abortion, which takes place on 25 May. |
| On Tuesday, Facebook started to block ads relating to the referendum that did not originate from advertisers inside Ireland. | On Tuesday, Facebook started to block ads relating to the referendum that did not originate from advertisers inside Ireland. |
| However, Google said all ads relating to the vote would be blocked. | However, Google said all ads relating to the vote would be blocked. |
| Google's ads appear on millions of websites, including its video-sharing platform YouTube. | Google's ads appear on millions of websites, including its video-sharing platform YouTube. |
| "Following our update around election integrity efforts globally, we have decided to pause all ads related to the Irish referendum on the Eighth Amendment," the company said in a statement. | "Following our update around election integrity efforts globally, we have decided to pause all ads related to the Irish referendum on the Eighth Amendment," the company said in a statement. |
| Voters will decide whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Republic of Ireland's constitution, which states "the right to life of the unborn". | Voters will decide whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment to the Republic of Ireland's constitution, which states "the right to life of the unborn". |
| At present, the country has a near-total ban on abortion, with terminations very rarely allowed. | At present, the country has a near-total ban on abortion, with terminations very rarely allowed. |
| In April, Irish data protection commissioner Helen Dixon said it was possible that foreign organisations could try to sway the referendum. | In April, Irish data protection commissioner Helen Dixon said it was possible that foreign organisations could try to sway the referendum. |
| Ireland's electoral laws ban foreign organisations from funding campaign groups in the country. However, social media sites and search engines are not prohibited from carrying foreign-funded advertisements. | Ireland's electoral laws ban foreign organisations from funding campaign groups in the country. However, social media sites and search engines are not prohibited from carrying foreign-funded advertisements. |
| Google said ads relating to the vote would be "paused" from 10 May. | Google said ads relating to the vote would be "paused" from 10 May. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| by Emma Vardy, Ireland correspondent | by Emma Vardy, Ireland correspondent |
| There has been mounting pressure on social media companies for greater transparency, following revelations over who is behind political advertising campaigns and how they target us. | There has been mounting pressure on social media companies for greater transparency, following revelations over who is behind political advertising campaigns and how they target us. |
| Claims that Cambridge Analytica used data gathered from millions of Facebook profiles, and that Russia-backed advertising influenced the US presidential election, have led to fears that political campaigning on social media could be a threat to democracy. | Claims that Cambridge Analytica used data gathered from millions of Facebook profiles, and that Russia-backed advertising influenced the US presidential election, have led to fears that political campaigning on social media could be a threat to democracy. |
| In Ireland, there have already been complaints from local groups that foreign campaigners with big budgets were trying to sway the vote. | In Ireland, there have already been complaints from local groups that foreign campaigners with big budgets were trying to sway the vote. |
| Whether or not foreign entities really do have the power to unduly influence election results is unclear. | Whether or not foreign entities really do have the power to unduly influence election results is unclear. |
| But recent scandals have shown that allowing political advertising on social media to go unchecked risks undermining confidence in the result and can leave the public feeling manipulated. | |
| This latest move from Google and Facebook shows social media companies are now prepared to play a much more proactive role. | This latest move from Google and Facebook shows social media companies are now prepared to play a much more proactive role. |