On May 22, 2024, Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, faced a shareholder proposal urging the company to address the dissemination of reproductive healthcare misinformation on its platforms. The proposal, known as Proposal No. 10, was put forward by long-term shareholders The Educational Foundation of America (EFA) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). It calls for Alphabet's Board to publish a report assessing the effectiveness of the company's policies and actions in reducing the spread of false or misleading content related to reproductive health care. The proposal highlights the risks posed by crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), which have been documented for using Google's advertising platforms to disseminate and generate reproductive health misinformation. The co-filers argue that...Show More

On May 22, 2024, Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, faced a shareholder proposal urging the company to address the dissemination of reproductive healthcare misinformation on its platforms. The proposal, known as Proposal No. 10, was put forward by long-term shareholders The Educational Foundation of America (EFA) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). It calls for Alphabet's Board to publish a report assessing the effectiveness of the company's policies and actions in reducing the spread of false or misleading content related to reproductive health care. The proposal highlights the risks posed by crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), which have been documented for using Google's advertising platforms to disseminate and generate reproductive health misinformation. The co-filers argue that Alphabet's current policies and enforcement mechanisms are ineffective, potentially increasing reputational and brand risks, as well as attracting regulatory and legislative scrutiny. The proposal emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in Alphabet's approach to content management, particularly in the wake of the reversal of Roe v. Wade and the subsequent reproductive health 'infodemic.' Alphabet has declined dialogue with the proponents of the proposal, and despite existing policies, CPCs continue to exploit loopholes and promote inaccurate content. The co-filers urge shareholders to vote YES on the proposal to enhance Alphabet's policies and safeguard users' well-being.