Google suspends political ads in South Korea ahead of general elections

Google has announced the suspension of all political advertisements in South Korea leading up to the country’s general elections in April, as per The Korea Times. The ban encompasses all Google-owned platforms, including YouTube, Google Search, and the Google Play Store.

Google also intends to guide users to credible information about voting methods and voter registration by providing links on its homepage. Additionally, the company plans to offer election-related information panels in YouTube search results, connecting users with trustworthy sources for further details.

As South Korea joins the lineup of nations with significant elections in 2024, Google is part of its efforts to combat misinformation and address voter bias, echoing similar initiatives taken after major elections globally. However, it is uncertain whether Google will apply this policy to other election-bound countries like India.

Why does it matter?

As reported by Medianama, this isn’t the first time Google has implemented such a ban; it previously did so after the US Presidential election in 2020 and before elections in the Philippines, Canada, and Singapore. While it’s unclear if this trend will continue in other countries gearing up for elections, Google has already established stricter regulations in India. These include identity verification, pre-certification by the Election Commission, and transparency measures through initiatives like the Google Ads Transparency Centre.