As state legislatures are increasingly codifying abortion-related laws, Google is changing its requirements for abortion-related advertising.

Under its new policy, which goes into effect in June in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland, the internet search giant will require abortion clinics and life-affirming crisis pregnancy centers alike to “self-declare as an organization that either provides abortions or does not provide abortions.”

As part of Google’s revised ad certification process, it will automatically generate one of the following in-ad disclosures for abortion products or service ads: “Provides abortions” or “Does not provide abortions.”

Google states in its amended policy statement: “This added transparency will help ensure that users have the necessary information to decide which abortion-related ads are most relevant to them.”

The company’s new abortion-related ad policy follows Oklahoma’s passage in April of a law requiring those who provide a two-step abortion pill procedure to also inform their patients of abortion-reversal options.

Google does not allow ads related to abortion on its site in more than 70 countries, according to The New York Times.

Google has also been criticized by abortion-rights groups for its ad grant program that provides funding to qualified non-profits, including both abortion providers and pregnancy resource centers that don’t provide abortions.

In recent months, life-saving abortion legislation has been signed by governors in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Ohio, Arizona, Arkansas, South Dakota, Utah, Idaho and North Dakota.

Photo: Alamy.com