From ‘Despicable’: Google Ads Censors UK Party Before Election

by Catherine Salgado

The Reform UK Party found itself suddenly targeted without explanation by Google Ads some two weeks before the July 4 election. While Google did apparently make tacit acknowledgment of a mistake, quickly reversing the censorship, it provides another sobering illustration of Google’s constant election meddling and interference not just in England, but around the world.

Reform UK Party leader and political candidate Nigel Farage tweeted June 22, “ELECTION INTERFERENCE ALERT 🚨 Big Tech giant @Google has BLOCKED our Ad Accounts. They are trying to stop the Reform message.” He added, “I hope [Google Europe President] @MattBrittin can look into this issue as a matter of urgency. We want action.” He added a screenshot from Google ads saying, “Your account is suspended.”

Google did, surprisingly, look urgently into the issue, as Farage triumphantly posted later the same day, “BREAKING Google have just reinstated our ad account. My thanks to @MattBrittin. A big victory!” Farage did not add if Google provided an explanation or what that explanation was.

“Google's reach is truly global, including how it meddles in elections,” said MRC Vice President for Free Speech Dan Schneider. “Blocking Nigel Farage's ads is despicable, but predictable. I suspect this also foreshadows what we will soon see in our own elections. Google has been interfering in our elections for years. It shows no signs of stopping.”