How Is Search Engine Bias Affecting Your Access to Vital Health Resources?

With 5 billion online users and 1 in 20 Google searches related to health, digital health has reached a level of social maturity where the internet serves as the primary source for sexual and reproductive care for many. In an age where information is at our fingertips, it’s hard to imagine that critical details about our health could be deliberately obscured. Yet, this is exactly what’s happening with digital platforms that control access to sexual and reproductive health information. People increasingly value the convenience, confidentiality, and autonomy that online resources offer. However, the reality of digital censorship is not just a theoretical concern—it’s an issue affecting millions globally.

Take, for example, a deeply concerning discovery about Bing, one of the world’s leading search engines. Research has uncovered that Bing filters out essential resources for those seeking abortion services. When searching for terms like “abortion hotline” or “abortion clinic guide,” the results are often disappointingly sparse. However, intentionally misspelling the word—such as typing “abbbortion” or “aNbortion”—can yield far more accurate resources. This isn’t a glitch; it’s a deliberate filtering mechanism designed to obscure critical information from those who need it most. With Bing reaching over 1.1 billion users globally and influencing search results on platforms like Yahoo and DuckDuckGo, the impact of this filtering is significant, to say the least.

Censorship and Information Access on Major Platforms

But the challenge doesn’t stop at search engines. Websites like howtouseabortionpill.org and safe2choose.org have faced monumental hurdles in their efforts to reach audiences due to the censorship policies of major social media platforms. For instance, safe2choose has encountered repeated suspensions on Instagram and YouTube. Their YouTube account was taken down not once, but twice, for allegedly promoting harmful actions—simply for providing details on safe abortion procedures.

This forced the organization to adapt its content strategy, shifting from direct testimonials to more abstract, animated storytelling. Despite these creative efforts, they lost valuable outreach during suspension periods, affecting thousands of potential users seeking crucial information. Similarly, howtouseabortionpill.org has found itself navigating an increasingly restrictive environment on Facebook and Instagram. Posts featuring images of pills or even innocuous mentions of reproductive organs have been flagged and removed, leading to temporary account suspensions.

These posts weren’t promoting illegal activities; they were sharing essential health information that could save lives. Yet, due to vague and inconsistently applied community guidelines, this content was treated as harmful or inappropriate. With Facebook alone boasting over 2.8 billion monthly active users, the suppression of content on these platforms has a global impact, particularly in regions where access to reliable health information is already limited.

The repercussions of such censorship are far-reaching and severe. For internet users, it means that the information we can access—or even know about—can be significantly influenced by the algorithms and policies of tech companies, which operate beyond our control. The consequences are stark: when vital information is suppressed, individuals may find themselves navigating a confusing maze of incomplete or misleading data. For someone in a vulnerable situation, such as a woman seeking abortion information, this can have profound, life-altering consequences.

Consider this: a study from the Guttmacher Institute found that restrictions on abortion access lead to a 21% increase in unsafe abortions, contributing to higher maternal mortality rates, particularly in areas with limited healthcare access (Guttmacher Institute, 2023). When search engines and social media platforms filter or block content related to safe abortion methods, they are not merely censoring information—they are actively endangering lives.

In the digital age, access to accurate information should be recognized as a fundamental right, particularly when it concerns health. Yet, tech giants like Meta and Microsoft, the parent company of Bing, often act as unseen gatekeepers, controlling what information is accessible and what remains hidden. Their moderation policies, driven by algorithms and opaque community guidelines, have vast implications for public health and personal autonomy.

Women First Digital (WFD), a global leader in digital support for self-managed abortion, has submitted a public comment addressing Meta’s role in the suppression of abortion-related content. WFD urged Meta to examine its impact on the digital suppression of safe abortion content, the spread of abortion misinformation, and its obligation to combat the abortion infodemic that thrives on its platforms. In today’s post-COVID, post-Roe era, Meta is not merely a moderator but an essential gatekeeper of safe abortion information and care.

Abortion care has evolved significantly, with medication abortion (MA) now accounting for a substantial portion of global abortions. This evolution is due to MA's safety and effectiveness, which has been credited with reducing maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, as abortion care moves outside traditional clinical settings, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to misinformation.

Anti-abortion activists exploit this vulnerability, especially on Meta platforms, while well-established sexual and reproductive health organizations face content suppression and censorship. This further fuels an ‘infodemic’ surrounding abortion. As we navigate this complex digital landscape, it’s crucial to remember that the power to shape our futures should not be left in the hands of a few tech giants. Access to accurate, unfiltered information is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity.

Women First Digital urges Meta to establish internal sexual and reproductive health expertise, evaluate content based on evidence-based standards, and provide transparency and easy appeal processes. These measures are vital to ensure that the visibility of accurate information on Meta’s platforms is protected from suppression.

In today’s digital age, access to accurate information should be a basic right. But when tech giants fall short of their promise to deliver unbiased search results and transparent social media practices, they endanger our ability to make informed decisions. As users, it's time to start questioning these practices and demanding greater accountability.

The stakes are simply too high to overlook.

Written by Sneha Sukumar Nair, Partnerships Coordinator at WFD. Prior to this position, she worked as the Global Communications Officer at howtouseabortionpill.org, a WFD-powered eHealth resource.

Insights from Michell Mor for Women First Digital (WFD)

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