Big Tech, Big Brother: Is Google trying to limit abortion choices for Australians?

19 Jul, 2024 | Advocacy, Equity and access, Media, Uncategorised

As families prepare to gather for Christmas, there’s a hidden crisis intensifying behind closed doors: reproductive violence, where someone uses coercion, manipulation, pressure or control to dictate another person’s reproductive choices, is affecting thousands of women and pregnant people across our region.

1 in 3 women globally will experience reproductive coercion in their lifetime, including sabotage of contraception, forced pregnancy, prevention or pressure related to abortion care, and financial or emotional threats linked to reproductive decisions.^[1]

In Australia, around 1 in 5 women accessing abortion services report some form of coercion or control from a partner, and frontline counsellors say cases are becoming more complex, particularly during holiday periods when isolation and family pressure escalate.^[2]

“Reproductive violence remains largely invisible, but it is happening right now, in homes, relationships, and families across Australia and the world,” said Grishma Bista, CEO, MSI Asia Pacific.

“No one should face abuse, pressure, or control over their reproductive choices. Access to safe, confidential care is essential, especially at a time of year when family dynamics can amplify risk.”

Holiday season increases risk

The end of the year is a peak period for relationship stress, financial pressure, travel, family expectation and isolation from support networks, all factors that increase risk of reproductive violence and reduce access to help.

MSI Australia’s psychosocial team reports a surge in women disclosing lack of control, fear, or pressure from partners in the lead up to Christmas, particularly around continuing or ending a pregnancy.

“We regularly support clients who are frightened, confused, or unsure if what they are experiencing is abuse,” said Alison Fonseca, Psychosocial Health Manager at MSI Australia.

“Reproductive violence can look like sabotaging contraception, hiding medication, pressuring someone to continue or terminate a pregnancy, or threatening to withdraw financial support. It is gendered violence, and it has devastating consequences.”

Regional impact demands regional action

Across the world, reproductive coercion is deeply connected to gender inequality, stigma, economic dependence, and access to health services. In many countries, there are no legal safeguards, limited counselling services, and severe stigma around reproductive healthcare.

“At MSI, we see resilience every day, people finding the courage to seek help, make their own decisions, and protect their future,” Ms Bista said.

“But access to safe pathways must be funded, protected and strengthened.”

Campaign launching: Help us support safety, choice and care

This Christmas, MSI is launching a donation campaign to support people experiencing reproductive violence, here and overseas.

Funds raised will:

Provide emergency psychosocial support including counselling
Cover the cost of abortion or contraception care for people facing coercion
Support local services in countries where reproductive violence is rarely acknowledged

Every donation, large or small, helps someone make a decision free from control, fear and pressure.

“No one should be forced into or out of a pregnancy,” Ms Fonseca said.

“With community support, we can make sure reproductive choices belong to the person, not their partner, not their family, and not their circumstances.”

Key facts

1 in 5 Australian women seeking abortion report pressure or coercion related to pregnancy decisions
Only 12 out of 43 Asia Pacific countries have legislation enshrining the right to choose the number, timing, and spacing of children ^[3]
Reproductive violence is one of the least recognised forms of gender-based violence, despite being reported in clinical and counselling settings worldwide ^[4]
Family violence is consistently one of the high-recorded months for family violence incidents ^[5]

[1] World Health Organisation. (2021)

[2] MSI Australia. (2020). Hidden Forces: Shining a light on reproductive coercion white paper

[3] IPPF. (2023). Asia Pacific Contraception Policy Atlas.

[4] Tarzia & McKenzie. (2024). Reproductive coercion and abuse in intimate relationships: Women’s perceptions of perpetrator motivations

[5] Crime Statistics Agency. (2025). Family Incidents

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For more information contact Anna Jabour on 0403 322 992

MSI Australia, the nation’s leading non-profit advocate and provider of abortion and contraception services, has expressed concern about Google’s new health and medicines policy which threatens to limit or stop Australian healthcare providers from advertising their services unless they are “verified” by a US based, for-profit company.

The new Google policy was published in May 2024 without any consultation, ignores existing Australian Government regulations and is seeking to charge legitimate telehealth providers thousands of dollars in fees annually to continue sharing health information about their services.

MSI Australia Managing Director, Greg Johnson, said the new Google policy could hinder access to abortion services for women and pregnant people throughout Australia and, unnecessary and imposed new costs on healthcare providers.

“Google’s new policy is a blatant overreach, imposing unnecessary barriers on trusted healthcare providers like MSI Australia,” he said.

“We’ve been providing safe, high-quality abortion and contraception services across Australia for over 20 years, our services are regulated and inspected by State and Territory Health Departments, and our advertising regulated by Australian Government authorities.

“The new Google policy ignores the comprehensive regulation by Australian authorities and tries to impose new “certification” by an unknown US based for-profit company. This threatens to disrupt access to essential abortion and contraception services, particularly for those in rural regional areas who often rely on telehealth services.

“It is obvious Google’s new policy is not about protecting consumers. It may be about increasing Google’s profits.

“We already have extensive consumer protections in place through Australian regulatory bodies and quality assurance programs. Google’s new policy just adds an expensive, opaque layer of red tape and will ultimately cause harm to people who need care.

“We call on Google to reconsider this misguided policy and work with Australian healthcare providers to develop consumer protections that do not add cost and do not limit access to essential abortion and contraception care.

“We have informed relevant Federal Government ministers and departments of this issue. Google should not be dictating health policy in Australia.”

MSI’s Director of Clinical Excellence, Dr Catriona Melville, sharply criticised Google’s new policy as an unusually overt overstep that creates unnecessary hurdles for safe clinical practices.

“Google’s new policy is not only unfair but also short-sighted. It potentially limits access to telehealth which has become a vital part of Australia’s healthcare system, since the COVID pandemic,” she said.

“This new Google policy risks turning back the clock on progress and limiting access to critical services for women and pregnant people who need to access abortion via telehealth.

“We urge the Australian government to intervene and protect legitimate healthcare providers from this overreach by a foreign tech giant.”

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For further information contact Anna Jabour on 0428 396 391.

MSI Australia is the only national not-for-profit provider of sexual and reproductive health services including permanent and long-acting reversible contraception and abortion care. For more information on our clinic network visit msiaustralia.org.au