Facebook profits from anti-abortion disinformation ads
'It reeks of colonialism'.
Meta and Google are restricting access to abortion information while enabling misinformation and abuse, a new report has revealed.
The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), in collaboration with the charity MSI Reproductive Health, has found evidence of social media and ad platforms hindering efforts to promote accurate information about abortion and reproductive rights in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The report found that Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, and tech giant Google are restricting local abortion providers from advertising.
In addition, several platforms are failing to tackle abuse and misinformation that threatens health workers and sabotages public access to reproductive healthcare.
The report also found that Meta profits from anti-abortion adverts placed by activists to deter people from seeking abortions overseas.
The CCDH interviewed local MSI teams, who revealed the problems they face from social media.
It found that major social media platforms restrict access to accurate information about abortion services in Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, and Vietnam for ‘vague’ reasons, such as containing ‘sensitive content’ or for ‘content that asserts or implies personal attributes’.
MSI said their own adverts have been restricted in Nepal and Vietnam, while MSI’s team in Ghana reported that Google Ads have been very ‘restrictive’, even banning the term ‘pregnancy options’ from being used when planning campaigns on the platform.
The report also reveals an analysis of Meta’s Ad Library in Ghana and Mexico.
It said anti-abortion ads promoting false or misleading claims were seen one million times across both countries between 2019 and 2024, and which the company profited from.
One misleading advert read: ‘What are the effects of Mifepristone and Misoprostol? The use of these medications to induce abortion runs high risks, as women can suffer severe complications.’
Another read: ‘Is there really a global power that’s pushing for abortion worldwide? This is a deep analysis of Context.’ Text over the image read: ‘The game of global power that shapes abortion worldwide.’
The team said these Meta-approved ads, paid for by anti-abortion groups, promote conspiracy theories such as the idea that efforts to decriminalise abortion were financed by ‘global powers and international companies’ to ‘eliminate’ local populations.
In Ghana, these ads are often placed by overseas anti-abortion groups such as Americans United for Life (AUL), and Tree of Life Ministries, run by American-born evangelical Christians based in Israel.
The report also said that social media companies turn a ‘blind eye’ to abuse and misinformation campaigns directed at local abortion service providers in the countries investigated.
Local teams in Kenya are increasingly targeted with abusive language, including the term ‘baby killers’, on Facebook and X.
The MSI team in Ghana reported receiving similar messages on TikTok.
Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said that companies like Meta and Google own platforms where billions of people get their information and share advice.
‘Social media companies mine users’ personal data in the Global South, but take little care to protect local human rights and civil liberties,’ he said. ‘It reeks of colonialism in its greed and arrogance.’
Whitney Chinogwenya, marketing specialist at MSI Reproductive Choices, said: ‘False information can only be corrected with facts and evidence.
‘Yet from Ghana to Nepal, Meta is removing our Facebook pages and ads with no explanation, while turning a blind eye to abusive messages directed at our team members for simply doing their jobs.
‘Meanwhile Google does next to nothing about harmful websites advertising fake clinics that put women and girls at serious risk. We’re always firefighting the next issue, with no one to turn to but a chatbot.’
She said that the Global South is being neglected by these major tech platforms, which are putting profits before people.
‘In the face of growing attacks on our rights and freedoms, it’s time for them to crack down on disinformation and support women to make the choices that are right for them, with genuine information they can trust,’ said Ms Chinogwenya.
Meta spokesperson Ryan Daniels told Metro.co.uk: ‘We allow posts and ads promoting health care services, as well as discussion and debate around them.
‘Content about reproductive health must follow our rules, including those on prescription drugs and misinformation, and ads promoting reproductive health products or services may only be targeted to people 18+. We prohibit ads that include misinformation or mislead people about services a business provides, and we will review the content of this report.’
Metro.co.uk has also contacted Google for a comment.