Google Removes YouTube Channels Tied to Russian and Chinese Propaganda
In its latest effort to combat global disinformation, Google has removed nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and associated accounts during the second quarter of 2025.
The Gaze reports this, referring to CNBC.
The targeted accounts were linked to coordinated propaganda campaigns originating from Russia, China, and several other countries.
The initiative is part of the work conducted by Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG), which monitors and disrupts state-sponsored information operations.
The majority of deleted accounts, over 7,700, were tied to pro-Beijing campaigns. These channels disseminated content in both Chinese and English, promoting the Chinese Communist Party, praising President Xi Jinping, and defending China’s stance on international affairs, particularly in opposition to U.S. foreign policy.
More than 2,000 channels linked to Russian influence operations were also taken down. These accounts produced multilingual content aimed at amplifying pro-Kremlin narratives while attacking Ukraine, NATO, and Western governments.
Among them were accounts associated with Russia Today (RT), the state-backed media outlet accused of financially incentivizing conservative U.S. influencers ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections.
In May alone, Google shut down 20 RT-linked YouTube channels, four Google Ads accounts, and one Blogger site.
The report also cited disinformation campaigns linked to Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Romania, and Ghana. These efforts allegedly sought to discredit political opponents or interfere in regional disputes, including narratives around the Israel–Palestine conflict.
This wave of takedowns followed a larger purge in the first quarter of 2025, when Google removed more than 23,000 accounts for similar activities.
By continuously disrupting state-backed disinformation campaigns, Google aims to safeguard its platforms ahead of major global events and elections, reinforcing its role as a key actor in the fight against digital propaganda.
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