Google blocked STI awareness ads as ‘adult content’, Senate estimates hears

Search engine added ‘STI testing’ to list of sensitive topics, censoring important public health campaign, Greens leader says

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Google has blocked ads for a commonwealth-funded STI awareness campaign as “adult content” in a move sexual health organisations say frustrates efforts to share evidence-based public health information online.

The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday that the tech company’s moderation practices had recently undermined the reach and cost-effectiveness of the national campaign, run by Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia (SRHA).