Google Won’t Take Philippine Election Ads in Run-Up to 2022 Vote
Google Won’t Take Philippine Election Ads in Run-Up to 2022 Vote
(Bloomberg) -- Google will not accept election advertisements in the Philippines ahead of the 2022 presidential vote, replicating a move in the U.S. designed to limit false messaging.
The Internet company said the halt on advertising will cover the Philippines’ election campaign and silence periods from February 8 to May 9 next year. The policy will apply to election ads intended to be placed on Google, YouTube and other partners that were purchased through Google Ads, Display and Video 360, and Shopping platforms.
“Google is focusing its efforts and resources on upcoming election-related initiatives which aim to help people access useful and accurate information,” the Alphabet Inc. unit said in a statement Wednesday.
Tech companies including Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. have rewritten policies on campaign ads and disinformation, as they faced recent scrutiny over which content they amplify or silence. In the Philippines, disinformation campaigns persist on social media, following the 2016 vote that showed how voters can get swayed by false information they see online.
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