Attorney General Alan Wilson joins multistate letter urging Google not to censor crisis pregnancy centers from search results
July 21, 2022
AG Wilson promises legal action against Google should they discriminate against crisis pregnancy centers in search results and other tools
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today sent a multistate letter to Google expressing concerns about recent political pressure encouraging Google to discriminate against crisis pregnancy centers in search results, online advertising, and other products like Google Maps. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has advocated for the shutting down of crisis pregnancy centers, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), joined by 19 of their Democrat colleagues, sent Google their own respective letter, urging them to discriminate against these private charities by removing them from search results.
In their letter, the attorneys general promise to investigate potential violations of antitrust laws and religious discrimination, should Google fall to this political pressure and attack free speech.
“There’s no legitimate reason for Google to use its corporate power to discriminate against crisis pregnancy centers and hurt the women who go there for health services,” Attorney General Wilson said. “If these abortion advocates are really pro-choice, why are they trying to eliminate one of the choices pregnant women have?”
Crisis pregnancy centers are private charities that show compassion and practical support to women in a time of need. In 2019, crisis pregnancy centers served over 1.8 million clients and provided services valued at over $266 million for little or no cost. These included ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, STD testing, parenting and prenatal education classes, post-abortive care, recovery counseling, free or reduced-cost diapers, baby clothes, car seats, and strollers.
The attorneys general of Virginia and Kentucky led the letter. In addition to South Carolina, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia also joined the letter.
You can read the letter to Google here.
