Google has terminated thousands of YouTube channels in Brazil, Russia, and China as part of its investigation into coordinated influence operations. Google has terminated 5,197 YouTube channels and around 17 bloggers as part of the company’s ongoing investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to China.
These YouTube channels and blogs have mostly uploaded spam content in Chinese regarding lifestyle, entertainment, and music, and a very small subset uploaded in both English and Chinese language about US and Chinese foreign affairs, says Google.
Google has also terminated 718 YouTube channels as part of the company’s investigation into coordinated influence operations that are linked to Russia. According to Google, the campaign was linked to the Internet Research Agency (IRA), and was also sharing content in Russian language that was supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia.
Google terminated 76 YouTube channels in Brazil where the campaign was sharing content in Brazilian that was supportive of Jair Bolsonaro, president of Brazil. Google has also terminated 8 YouTube channels and blocked 2 domains from eligibility to appear on Google News and discover as part of their investigation into the coordinated influence operations linked to Russia.
Google terminated 27 YouTube in Russia for sharing content supporting Russia, critical Ukraine and Western Europe, and also pulled down 30 YouTube channels and 5 AdSense accounts that were linked to a consulting company of Russia.
