Suspicions about Google’s bias against pro-lifers were confirmed again this week when the online giant labeled the “Unplanned” film “propaganda.”
“Unplanned” is based on the true story of Abby Johnson as she worked for Planned Parenthood and eventually had a change of heart after watching an unborn baby be aborted during an ultrasound-guided abortion. It earned a surprising $6.1 million on opening weekend, and stayed in the top 10 in its second week at the box office.
But it has faced its share of hurdles, including ad rejections by most major TV outlets and a temporary suspension on Twitter.
The Google search engine described the film as “drama/propaganda” this week, according to various screen shots posted by the filmmakers and conservative journalists.
“Google is the latest tech giant to be accused of bias against the newly released pro-life film “#Unplanned,” with the search engine listing the movie as “propaganda.”
Read the full story: https://t.co/YNKUzppvaX
— UnplannedMovie (@UnplannedMovie) April 12, 2019
Kelsey Bolar at The Daily Signal appeared to be the first to notice Google’s “propaganda” label on the film, Fox News reports. She posted a screen shot of Google’s search results for “Unplanned” Thursday on Twitter. Fox News also verified Bolar’s findings.
“Who knew that ‘propaganda’ was a movie genre? Google once again exposing its gross political bias,” Bolar wrote.
SIGN THE PETITION! Attention Facebook, Twitter, Google and YouTube: Stop Censoring Pro-Lifers
Margot Cleveland, a writer at The Federalist, noted that Google did not use the “propaganda” label for Al Gore’s environmental film “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Oh, @kelseybolar I’m sure @Google marks movies with a specific perspective “propaganda,” like Al Gore’s ….oh, wait, never mind. pic.twitter.com/Yr5j9XuYfS
— Margot Cleveland (@ProfMJCleveland) April 12, 2019
Others noted that none of liberal filmmaker Michael Moore’s movies are described as “propaganda” on Google either.
Someone just asked us, “Since when is @Variety a dictionary?” #Google is labeling “#UnPlanned” propaganda, while Fahrenheit 9/11 gets the gentle dub, “drama/war film.”
Is Saving Private Ryan also propaganda? #Spielberg #Film #Art #Unplannedthemovie https://t.co/3VrsteiJyG
— UnplannedMovie (@UnplannedMovie) April 12, 2019
A few hours later, Live Action noticed that Google changed the description. It now describes the film as a “drama.”
Update: @Google has removed “propaganda” from Unplanned’s category pic.twitter.com/XH710DFdN4
— Live Action (@LiveAction) April 12, 2019
A Google spokesperson told Fox News that the label was the result of an analytical error based on a “large volume” of web content that described the film as “propaganda.” The spokesperson said they fixed the error when they became aware of it.
Interestingly, a few weeks ago, Planned Parenthood CEO Leana Wen posted a photo of herself on Twitter hobnobbing with Google executives at its headquarters in California. The abortion giant has blasted the film as propaganda to a number of mainstream and liberal news sites.
The filmmakers have struggled to overcome numerous hurdles in publicizing the film, including being suspended on Twitter and having their ads rejected by major TV networks, including Lifetime, Hallmark Channel and HGTV.
The film opened in theaters nationwide at the end of March. “Unplanned” opened in fourth place during its first weekend and it expanded to more movie theaters last weekend.
