The efforts of environmental groups to hold Google accountable for its role in spreading climate misinformation.
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| The impact of climate disinformation on relief efforts and the importance of accurate information in addressing the climate crisis. Symbolic Image |
Washington, DC, USA – October 24, 2024:
A coalition of environmental groups and advocacy organizations is calling on Google to strictly enforce its policy prohibiting ads alongside climate denial content. The groups argue that despite Google's pledge to crack down on misinformation, ads continue to appear alongside climate denial content on its platforms.
The open letter, addressed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, comes in the wake of devastating hurricanes in the United States and just weeks before the COP29 climate summit. The letter highlights the ongoing issue of climate disinformation being monetized on Google's platforms, despite the company's stated policy.
While Google has demonetized some content by the Heartland Institute, a conservative US think tank, watchdogs have continued to find ads appearing alongside its misleading climate messaging on YouTube. The letter urges Google to take more decisive action by immediately and permanently demonetizing the Heartland Institute and other outlets that spread climate disinformation.
Nonprofit watchdog Check My Ads has also identified ad exchanges that have helped conservative websites, including The Epoch Times, profit from climate denialism. A recent investigation by Global Witness estimated that The Epoch Times generated around $1.5 million in combined revenue for Google and the website owners over the past year.
Additionally, Friends of the Earth has reported that YouTube has allowed the monetization of climate denial content peddled by influencers on the payroll of a Russian influence campaign.
The environmental groups argue that Google's ads are directly contributing to the spread of climate disinformation, which has dire consequences for the planet. They are urging Google to take immediate action to enforce its demonetization policy and ensure that its platforms are not used to amplify harmful misinformation.
The letter follows destructive hurricanes that have recently slammed the United States, triggering a torrent of misinformation that officials say has hampered relief efforts. The upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan is crucial for addressing the global climate crisis, and it is imperative that accurate information is available to inform decision-making.