SAN FRANCISCO – Google yesterday said it will no longer post advertisements next to misinformation about climate change on both its search engine and global video-sharing platform YouTube.
The new policy for Google advertisers, publishers and YouTube creators will prohibit the platforms from helping people make money from content that “contradicts well-established scientific consensus around the existence and causes of climate change”.
That includes content referring to climate change as a hoax or scam, or denying the world’s temperature is rising and that human activity is contributing to the problem, said the internet giant in a post.
“Advertisers simply don’t want their ads to appear next to this content.
“And, publishers and creators don’t want ads promoting these claims to appear on their pages or videos.”
The company said the policy change aligns with its efforts to promote sustainable practices and confront climate change.
“Google’s important decision to demonetise climate misinformation could turn the tide on the climate denial economy,” said civil group Avaaz’s campaign director Fadi Quran.
“For years, climate misinformers have confused public opinion and obstructed urgent political action on climate change, and YouTube has been one of their weapons of choice.”
Quran urged other online platforms to follow Google’s lead and stop funnelling money to those peddling debunked denials of climate change.
Social networking colossus Facebook, which is Google’s biggest competitor in the digital advertising market, has touted efforts to curb climate misinformation on its platform, but has no such ad ban in place.
Social media sites are regularly accused of promoting content that provokes strong emotional responses in order to keep users engaged so that the platforms can make more money from ads, even if the content may cause harm. – AFP, October 8, 2021
