Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Reform party, has accused Google of electoral interference after the company blocked the party’s advertising accounts. One ad was removed for a policy violation, although it is unclear which specific policy was violated. Google’s advertising policies include guidelines on political content and inappropriate content, requiring ads to be from verified advertisers with confirmed identities to avoid being flagged. In cases of multiple violations or one egregious violation, an account may be suspended without warning or opportunity for appeal.
Farage and Reform UK are considered to be on the far right of the UK political spectrum, with Farage having founded UKIP in 1993 and later creating the Brexit Party before forming Reform UK. His controversial comments on issues such as immigration, sexism, racism, and anti-Semitism have sparked criticism. Reform UK’s election manifesto includes policies on immigration, climate targets, tax cuts for small businesses, school fee relief, and banning what they refer to as “transgender ideology” in public schools.
Farage’s accusation of electoral interference from Google comes in the midst of a larger discussion in the UK about censorship, particularly on sensitive topics like immigration and the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He has also accused other organizations, such as media regulator Ofcom, of working against him and his party during the campaign. The party’s advertising accounts have since been refunded, allowing them to continue their campaign.
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https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/06/reform-uk-leader-nigel-farage-claims-google-blocked-party-advertisements/