Facebook, Google weirdly ban all ads relating to Ireland’s upcoming abortion referendum

By Dan Calabrese —— Bio and Archives May 14, 2018

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I’m not sure when putting across your point of view became “interfering,” but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about the times we live in, it’s that there’s no contortion of the language that can’t gain acceptance if you push it hard enough. On May 25, Ireland is having a referendum to possibly repeal the nation’s strict anti-abortion laws. As you might imagine, people from all over the place have strong feelings about it and when to express their point of view. But good luck using Facebook or Google to do that. They’ve deemed this “interference” in the vote, and they’re not going to allow it:

I’m starting to wonder if Facebook and Google really understand how this whole advertising thing works. Neither platform charges users to have accounts or use the site’s primary functions. It’s free to have a Facebook profile, or to send and receive messages on Facebook Messenger, or to use Gmail or the Google search engine. The platforms monetize their massive database of free memberships by providing advertisers with the opportunity to reach these members with their messages. This seems pretty basic, I know, hardly even necessary to explain. But somewhere along the line, Facebook and Google got the idea that attempting to influence someone is “interference,” whatever that means. Obviously this started with the whole nonsense about Russia “interfering” in the U.S. election by buying ads and presumably posting fake news stories on social media. But even if Russia was doing all that, “interference” is a weird word to use in describing it. Trying to convince people of an idea or a message is not “interference.” It’s just trying to make a point. It can be done in dishonest or disingenuous ways, but in case you haven’t noticed, mainstream media and politicians are guilty of the same thing every day. Facebook is allowing ads about the referendum if they’re bought by Irish advertisers, whereas Google is allowing none at all. I guess Facebook figures a non-Irish person trying to influence the referendum is “interfering” in Ireland’s business, although one might say the fate of unborn children is a concern for people everywhere. (Would Facebook object to people from America opining about Durfur? I didn’t think so.) Google’s position is even more illogical, as if anyone who expresses an opinion is “interfering” with someone’s thought process in deciding how to vote.