Top Democratic super PAC head slams Google for ‘censoring’ advertising

The chairman of the top super PAC backing Joe Biden’s presidential bid excoriated Google on Wednesday for refusing to run a digital ad from the group showing police violence against protesters, accusing the tech giant of “censoring” advertising that depicts the realities of the U.S. under President Trump.

In a video briefing with reporters, Guy Cecil, chairman of Priorities USA, compared Google’s rejection of the 30-second digital spot this summer to blocking advertisements from civil rights advocates in the 1960s while running pro-segregation ads from the likes of George Wallace. 

“If Google were to exist in the 1960s, they would have allowed George Wallace to run ads,” Cecil said. 

“These companies should stop censoring the advertising that actually highlights what is happening in this country and they should run these ads,” he added.

Cecil’s remarks came roughly a month after Google declined to run an advertisement from Priorities USA and another Democratic group Color of Change PAC that heavily featured clips of police officers beating, using stun guns and tear-gassing demonstrators protesting against police brutality and racial injustice.

At the time, Google argued that the ad violated its rules against “shocking and disturbing content.” Two other companies, Verizon and Hulu, also rejected the ad, while Facebook allowed it to run on its platform.