TURKISH GROUP PRESSURES GOOGLE TO BECOME COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE DENIAL
Asbarez
turkish-group-pressures-google-to-become-complicit -in-genocide-denial/
Aug 12, 2009
WASHINGTON-On Aug. 11, the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) launched
an online campaign to pressure internet giant Google into complicity
in its denial of the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).
Google is being pressured to become complicit in Armenian Genocide
denial.
The move comes in response to Google’s recent decision to stand by
its "Don’t be Evil" motto by stopping advertisements, placed by the
TCA, which drove internet traffic to websites denying the Armenian
Genocide. The TCA’s earlier Google Ads were triggered with search
entries including "Armenia," "Armenian," and "Armenian Genocide,"
and led to the Turkish Coalition of America website-which includes
revisionist materials denying the centrally planned and systematically
carried-out campaign of extermination of the 1.5 million Armenians by
the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915-23. The TCA also advocates
against passage of Congressional legislation, H.Res.252, recognizing
the Armenian Genocide.
"The Turkish Coalition of America’s efforts to strong-arm Google to
join their Armenian Genocide denial campaign is as misguided as their
broader efforts to cover-up this crime against humanity," said ANCA
executive director Aram Hamparian. "We commend Google for reviewing
its ad policy and respecting its ‘Don’t be Evil’ motto by turning
down ads advocating hate and lies."
Google reviewed its policy on running Armenian Genocide denial ads
in June 2009, after receiving thousands of letters from concerned
Armenian Americans and human rights activists expressing outrage at
the ads. An ANCA Action Alert distributed on May 28 explained that
"These ads are misleading to Google patrons, profoundly offensive
to victims and survivors of all genocides, and contribute to an
environment of outright denial and impunity in the face of mass
atrocities that continues to fuel the cycle of genocide to this very
day." A Facebook Causes page, titled "Stop Turkey’s Anti-Armenian
Genocide Propaganda on Google AdWords!" has over 9,100 members.
The ANCA has posted an alert urging activists to contact Google in
support of their policy against genocide denial. To take action, visit
rtid=13868481&type=CU.