A coalition of 17 state attorneys general sent a letter on July 21 to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding that the search engine not discriminate against crisis pregnancy centers. Attorneys General Jason Miyares of Virginia and Daniel Cameron of Kentucky led the coalition.
Crisis pregnancy centers continue to be a focus of pro-abortion politicians in the post-Roe v. Wade political and cultural landscape. These clinics offer a range of services for new and expectant mothers, including pregnancy tests, supportive counseling, limited ultrasounds, STD/STI testing, and parenting classes. Additionally, they provide formula, diapers, and other material needs.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts recently called for these centers to be “shut down all around the country” claiming they attempt to “fool” women seeking abortions into carrying pregnancies to term.
In the letter, the two AGs claimed that Google “accounts for more than ninety percent of all internet searches in the United States” and such dominance “comes with a tremendous responsibility” to the American public.
Their letter was in response to a June 17 letter from Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who had written Pichai decrying “that 37 percent of Google Maps results and 11 percent of Google search results for ‘abortion clinic near me’ and ‘abortion pill’ in states with so-called ‘trigger laws’ – laws that would effectively ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned – were for anti-abortion clinics … Additionally, 28 percent of Google ads displayed at the top of search results were for anti-abortion clinics.”
The two pro-abortion lawmakers rebuked Pichai for these findings, stating, “Google should not be displaying anti-abortion fake clinics or crisis pregnancy centers in search results for users that are searching for an ‘abortion clinic’ or ‘abortion pill.’”
Warner and Slotkin demanded that Pichai respond to their letter and provide “a plan to limit anti-abortion clinics in Google search results, ads, and Maps,” “a plan to add disclaimers that clearly indicate whether a search result does or does not provide abortions,” and “information on Google’s attempts to provide accurate search results pertaining to health care.”
In response to the pro-abortion lawmakers’ demands, Miyares and Cameron wrote, “Complying with these demands would constitute a grave assault on the principle of free speech. ‘Unbiased access to information,’ while no longer a component of Google’s corporate creed, is still what Americans expect from your company.”
“Suppressing pro-life and pro-mother voices at the urging of government officials would violate the most fundamental tenet of the American marketplace of ideas,” their letter went on to say.
While it is certainly within the prerogative of members of Congress to send such a letter, Google falls under the jurisdiction of every state attorney general’s consumer protection and advocacy responsibilities.
On this topic, former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill told the Epoch Times, “[The state attorneys general] have the right to investigate companies that are operating within their state on information that consumers are being duped or otherwise are having difficulty being treated fairly.”
Miyares and Cameron concluded their letter with pointed questions for the Google CEO.
“Has Google taken, or will Google take, any steps to treat crisis pregnancy centers any differently with regard to Google search results, Google Ads, Google Maps, or any other Google service than they were treated before the leak of the draft United States Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization?” they asked. “If so, what steps have you taken, or will you take?”
Their letter gave Google a deadline of 14 days to respond.
