Google and Health Disinformation, Vermont’s CPC Law, and Louisiana’s Abortion Medication Ban
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** CfA's May 24, 2024 Newsletter
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With your support, Campaign for Accountability is working to expose corruption and hold the powerful accountable.
** This Week's Updates:
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Planned Parenthood Cites TTP Report in Alphabet Shareholder Resolution
Anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) have a long history of imitating healthcare providers, sometimes opening facilities just across the street ([link removed]) from abortion clinics in the hopes of diverting or confusing patients. It’s a strategy that has been denounced ([link removed]) by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which considers CPCs a threat to both individual wellbeing and public health. Online, CPCs often adopt the same deceptive tactics, using search engine optimization ([link removed]) to appear in searches for abortion resources or support. Instead of cracking down on this intentionally deceptive behavior, Google continues to allow CPCs to reach users through paid advertisements and organic recommendations.
Now, Planned Parenthood and the Educational Foundation of America have filed a shareholder resolution with the SEC, asking Google’s investors to demand a review of the company’s policies concerning false and misleading reproductive health information. Their proposal cites ([link removed]) research from CfA's Tech Transparency Project, which found that Google was recommending ([link removed]) CPCs to users registered as low-income women. By allowing CPCs to game its systems and appear alongside legitimate providers, Google is exposing countless women to deceptive information and increasing the likelihood that they will receive inadequate care.
Vermont Prosecutors Defend Crisis Pregnancy Center Regulations
In many states, anti-abortion CPCs exist in a regulatory gray area, where they regularly evade accountability for their dangerous and unethical approach to reproductive healthcare. In 2023, Illinois passed a law ([link removed]) that created a formal definition for CPCs, and explicitly forbid them from engaging in deceptive practices with the goal of preventing individuals from accessing abortions. The law was challenged by anti-abortion groups on the grounds of free speech, however, and eventually overturned ([link removed]) . Different version of the law have been passed in Connecticut, Colorado, and Vermont ([link removed]) , where they were quickly challenged by anti-abortion legal organizations.
Now, the fight has come to Vermont. Last week, state prosecutors argued ([link removed]) that a coalition of CPCs didn’t have standing to declare the bill unconstitutional, because it doesn’t’ specifically target anti-abortion speech. "The law prohibits lying and deception in the marketplace,” said Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark when the lawsuit was first announced ([link removed]) . “Who would be against that?”
Louisiana Criminalizes Abortion Pill Possession
Yesterday, Louisiana lawmakers passed a bill ([link removed]) criminalizing the possession of abortion medications without a prescription, adding an additional hurdle to the state’s already-substantial ([link removed]) restrictions on reproductive care. The bill does not punish women who possess abortion medications for their ownconsumption; instead, it aims to undermine support networks and impose harsh penalties on individuals who smuggle abortion medication within the state. The medications targeted by the legislation – Mifepristone and Misoprostol – are also used to treat miscarriages and hemorrhaging, and will become much more difficult ([link removed]) for physicians to prescribe.
Louisiana already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates ([link removed]) in the country, with only 25% of its hospitals offering maternity care. Hundreds of doctors in the state have signed a letter ([link removed]) cautioning that the ban, and warn that it could lead to dangerous medical delays and declining health outcomes. Controlled substances are also tracked by state databases, meaning physicals prescribing either medication could come under increased scrutiny. While the bill has not been enacted, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has indicated his support ([link removed]) for similar measures and is likely to sign it into law.
What We're Reading
Supreme Court Architect Flew Same ‘Appeal to Heaven’ Flag as Alito ([link removed])
FTC chair: AI models could violate antitrust laws ([link removed])
Clarence Thomas attacks Brown v. Board ruling amid 70th anniversary ([link removed])
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Be on the lookout for more updates about our work in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again for signing up to be a part of CfA!
Sincerely,
Michelle Kuppersmith
Executive Director, Campaign for Accountability
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