Brinda Karat wants ban on Google for hosting prenatal ads; Google denies the allegation

Brinda Karat, a CPI-M leader and member of Rajya Sabha, has demanded a ban on Google.com and the arrest of Google India chief for allegedly hosting advertisements about clinics doing prenatal sex determination tests in violation of laws. On its part, Google India has denied posting any such ads on its site.

“In India, we do not allow ads for the promotion of prenatal gender determination or preconception sex selection. We take applicable legal requirements extremely seriously and take prompt and effective action in case a violation is reported to us,” a Google India spokesperson has said.

Sajan Poovayya, one of Google’s lawyers in India, has clarified that one would have found “zero ads on sex determination” on Google.co.in even before the issue was raised. However, it’s still possible that if one tried to find a prenatal sex determination facility in a country like Thailand where such tests are legal, he could find results and ads relating to that country.