Major Irish advertisers are to consider suspending their ad campaigns with Google Ireland following claims that their ads are supporting extremist videos on YouTube.
“We have outlined concerns and offered [clients] the choice of pausing their YouTube and Google Display Network activity should they wish to do so,” said Graham Taylor, chief executive of Havas Media Ireland, an advertising agency that represents companies such as Hyundai, Emirates and the FAI.
The move comes after companies including Marks & Spencer, McDonald’s and Tesco withdrew advertising from Google in the UK because of their ads being displayed by Google in extremist YouTube videos. Havas in the UK has also pulled advertising on behalf of UK-based clients.
