Google and Facebook, which together dominate the market for digital ads, will no longer allow bail bonds services, which advocates say prey on vulnerable people, to advertise on their platforms.
Why it matters: From Russian election meddling to discrimination, there's a larger reckoning going on about harms that can come from the sprawling online ad ecosystem. Both companies have banned ads for high-interest payday loans already, as well as ads for cryptocurrency.
The details:
Behind the scenes: The Essie Justice Group, which advocates for the end of the money bail system, said it and other civil rights groups had been discussing the issue with Google since last year. "Google’s move to ban bail bonds ads is the most massive divestment any private sector entity has made from the bail industry," the group said in a message to supporters.
Go deeper: Google will work with Koch Industries, owned by conservative donors David and Charles Koch, on an event this week related to reforming the bail system.
