Russian Internet watchdog complains of Google, Yandex abortion ads

The Safe Internet League, a major Russian organization fighting dangerous Web content, has filed complaints against Internet company Yandex and Google to the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding contextual advertising promoting abortions, the organization said in a statement Thursday.
“If you type ‘abortion’ or ‘abortion on the same day it is requested’ into search systems, you will see contextual advertisements for abortion services, as well as for medicine for abortions,” the league’s Executive Director Denis Davydov said. The majority of such advertisements were found in Google’s search system, he said.
Yandex denied placing contextual advertisements for abortions. “We do not confirm the facts stated by the Safe Internet League. Yandex strictly complies with Russia’s legislation. The abortion advertisement is prohibited by the advertising law, and such advertisements have not been placed in any Yandex’ services,” a representative for the company said.
Fines for abortion advertising amount up to $12,500 under current legislation.