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Influencing Ireland’s Abortion Vote

Supporters on both sides of the abortion referendum in Ireland are concerned that foreign groups are using paid social media adverts to influence voters.

On 25 May Ireland will vote on whether to loosen restrictions on abortion. It would be a major change in a country that has some of the strictest abortion laws in the Western world. But along with the referendum to change the country’s constitution has come worries about outside interference with the process. Foreign groups have paid for social media advertisements, and in response both Facebook and Google have taken steps to limit such ads – in Google’s case, they’ve banned referendum-related advertising altogether. We hear from both sides of the abortion debate and talk to one group that’s trying to make political advertising more transparent.

Presenter: Jonathan Griffin
Reporter: Anisa Subedar
Image: Pro-choice protesters march in Ireland in support of a “yes” vote in the upcoming referendum.
Credit: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images

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23 minutes

Last on

Mon 21 May 2018 03:06GMT

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  • Fri 18 May 2018 21:06GMT
  • Sun 20 May 2018 00:32GMT
  • Sun 20 May 2018 11:32GMT
  • Mon 21 May 2018 01:32GMT
  • Mon 21 May 2018 03:06GMT

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