STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Google has taken steps to improve search results for individuals seeking information about abortion care.
New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote a letter to Google in June to provide accurate search engine results after the website was directing individuals seeking abortions to dangerous and misleading anti-abortion clinics, known as crisis pregnancy centers (CPC).
After James’ inquiry, Google said it will update its map and search results to appropriately label which facilities provide abortion care and which do not. Specifically, Google will label locations “Provides abortions” or “May not provide abortions,” and it will also take steps to independently verify facilities that provide abortion care.
These improvements will help individuals locate the reproductive health care facilities they need without being misled.
“I applaud Google for taking steps to improve their search results to help individuals seeking abortion care,” said James.
“These critical changes to Google search results will be lifesaving and will help individuals get the safe care they need. As reproductive rights are under attack, it’s more important than ever for businesses to do their part to protect access to reproductive care. My office will continue to take action to ensure that every person has the freedom to make their own choices about their bodies,” James continued.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade decision on June 24, Democrats in the House and Senate have begun introducing bills that would codify certain rights into law to minimize the impact of losing the constitutional right to abortion and the threat of losing other reproductive health care services.
Congressional Democrats passed two bills, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, that would ensure individuals seeking an abortion and the doctors who provide them have the right to travel across state lines without prosecution.
The second bill, the Women’s Health Protection Act, the House’s first attempt at restoring abortion rights nationwide, passed 219-210.
The House of Representatives also voted to pass legislation codifying access to contraceptives, the Right to Contraception Act, which passed the House, but is also not expected to pass the Senate.
Hochul signed a nation-leading legislative package that immediately protected the rights of patients and allowed reproductive healthcare providers expanded abortion procedure access and protection. The legislation signed last month took specific actions to address a variety of legal concerns initially unleashed by the Supreme Court’s leaked opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson.
New York will also protect the right of people to seek abortion care in New York.
