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Google has announced it is banning all ads related to the referendum on the Eighth Amendment ahead of the vote on May 25.<\/p>\nGoogle has announced it is banning all ads related to the referendum on the Eighth Amendment ahead of the vote on May 25.<\/p>\n
It follows a similar move by Facebook, which is rejecting adverts from groups outside the country attempting to influence the referendum.<\/p>\n
However, Google seeks to ban all relevant ads in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
“Following our update around election integrity efforts globally, we have decided to pause all ads related to the Irish referendum on the Eighth Amendment.”<\/p>\n
The decision will be implemented in the next 24 hours and includes platforms such as Google and YouTube.<\/p>\n
It will have no affect on searches performed on Google.<\/p>\n
The move has been welcomed, but Fianna F\u00e1il’s spokesperson on technology, James Lawless TD, says it has come far too late in the campaign to combat ‘fake news’.<\/p>\n
“The decision taken by Google today, and that taken by Facebook yesterday, is a positive development but comes far too late in the day,” he said.<\/p>\n
Fake news has already had a corrosive impact on the referendum debate on social media.<\/p>\n
“This is alarming when you consider a growing number of people solely rely on social media to consume news and shape their decision making process when it comes to elections and referenda.”<\/p>\n
The Green Party leader Eamon Ryan TD described the move as internationally significant.<\/p>\n
“This is not about which side of the referendum you\u2019re on, Yes or No. It is about protecting the integrity of our referendum and political system,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It is about allowing people to make their own minds up without interference from foreign influence. It is about creating a fair and transparent system, which avoids giving unfair advantage to those with massive online advertising budgets.<\/p>\n
The announcement is of international significance. It\u2019s not just important for the referendum on the 8th amendment.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s important for how referenda and elections can be protected from undue influence all around the world.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s regrettable that this has been done last minute, in a voluntary capacity by the companies involved.<\/p>\n
“The political system needs to think hard about how online advertising in elections is regulated so the process, in future, is transparent and fair.”<\/p>\n