Google to lift ban on political ads referencing coronavirus

Google is lifting the ban on coronavirus-related advertising on its platform after facing pushback from Democrats, according to A Google memo obtained by The Hill.

Google will first start by allowing ads from “government entities, hospitals, medical providers, and NGOS who want to get relevant information out to the public,” Google head of industry Mark Beatty told clients in the memo Thursday.

Google will then make changes to allow political organizations to run ads related to COVID-19.

“We’re planning to allow other advertisers, including political organizations, to run ads related to COVID-19. We will have more information to share on this in the next few days,” Beaty wrote in the email to clients.