Google bans non-profit's ads

Spotted this in the paper today. Associated Press:

Online search engine leader Google has banned the ads of an environmental group protesting a major cruise line's sewage treatment methods, casting a spotlight on the editorial policies that control the popular Web site's lucrative marketing program.

Washington D.C.-based Oceana, a non-profit group, said Google dropped the ads because they were critical of Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

The ads violated Google's policy against ads criticizing other groups or companies, said spokeswoman Cindy McCaffrey.

It's a dicey issue, but now that Google serves as a major editorial gateway, I would argue that more speech is better than less speech, even if the occasional advertiser is offended.