I&B Ministry Instructs Search Engines Not to Carry Sex Selection Ads Online
Information and Broadcasting Ministry has issued a directive to search engines in India not to advertise links regarding sex determination tests of unborn babies, said media reports.
The ministry issued instructions in the regard to Google, Yahoo and MSN, reports said.
On a PIL in 2008, the Supreme Court had issued notices to Google, Yahoo and Microsoft for displaying ‘sex determination’ ads.
According to an official in Health Ministry, the purpose of the directive is ensure that sex selection kits were not advertised online, said reports.
“People have been buying these kits online and we had asked I&B Ministry to direct all search engines to filter this information,” the officer was quoted saying.
Google India business head Narasimha Jayakumar said: “We do not allow ads for promotion of prenatal gender determination…, since it is illegal in India. We contractually require our advertisers to comply with applicable laws…to ensure that no ad is shown when a user searches for those particular search terms.”
(Based on internet reports)
