Google Sensoring Gun Ads?

[FJ40INTOW]

I found this on local sales network:

4-29-2009: We regret to inform our users that the "Firearms" category has been removed from the Local Sales Network to comply with 3rd party policies. read more

We have been notified on April 28th that weapon-related content is in violation of our primary supporters advertising policies. They gave us 72 hours to remove the content if LSN is to continue earning income from their advertising campaigns.

We understand this will displease a portion of the LSN community. Realize this action was absolutely required to maintain LSN operating revenue. The Local Sales Network is a FREE service; the majority of financial support is earned through our 3rd party [banner advertisers].

As a result, you may no longer place any Ads in any category advertising the sale of guns, rifles, firearms, ammo, or promoting any website that advocate the sale of the above.

contact us for more information.


Thank you for your continued support, LSN is proud to serve your community!

 

[armoredman]

Sheesh...

 

[Oro]

Don't know what "LSN" is, but I guess I'll not be using it when I run across it. What is it, anyway? Sounds like a parallel to Craigslist, but it can't be terribly important if it's relatively unknown, can it?

 

[gwillys]

yep, looks like all firearms related pages have been removed.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=golsn.com+Firearms&btnG=Search

google cached pages are still up, but any firearms links are dead.
ie: http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:WOGARskJ5TEJ:www.golsn.com/listings/outdoor_adventure/firearms/handguns/873638.html+golsn.com+Firearms&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

 

[Norinco982lover]

So now we just have to figure out who their primary advertisers are, right?

 

[Oro]

I'd still like someone to explain what the corporate realtionship is between "LSN" and Google. Is it a wholly owned operation of theirs, a marketing tie-up, or what? If it's intrinsically tied to Google, this is easy to fight - you just dump gmail and incoming emails from them. This is an easy fight if that is the case...

 

[FJ40INTOW]

www.Localsalesnetwork.com

It is a free (to users) advertising network. It makes it money from advertising.

 

[MisterMike]

I don't see any tie to Google on the Local Sales Network website. It describes itself as serving the "mid-South" area. If the OP has any information that would confirm that this is a Google enterprise, I'd be interested in seeing it.

Anyway, for those who have a problem with this the answer seems simple--stop using LSN and let them know why you're doing so. If you really want to get ambitious, contact the third-party advertisers and let them know that you will no longer do business with them as a result of their anti-rights stance.

 

[jfh]

Well, a quick perusal of their ads showed

On the Main Page--Domino's
On a list page--B'Rock/97.3, and a redirect to Matt Donahue's (pyramid) money-making scheme.

I see nothing for google.

Jim H.

 

[Art Eatman]

Gripe at the advertisers. They're the ones causing the problem.

And, sorry, but this is not a legal issue.