Google terminates thousands of YouTube channels as part of investigation into China-linked influence operations

Google has terminated thousands of Youtube accounts and channels posting content that possibly originated from coordinated networks of hostile state operations and were intended to influence watchers’ views on key geopolitical issues.

“We terminated 2,598 YouTube channels and blocked 1 domain from eligibility to appear on Google News surfaces and Discover as part of our ongoing investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to the PRC. The coordinated inauthentic network uploaded content in Chinese and English about China and US foreign affairs. These findings are consistent with our previous reports,” noted Google in its Threat Analysis Group (TAG) updates bulletin for the month of June.

Meanwhile, U.S. news outlet CNBC noted that YouTube in the second quarter had removed about 11,000 channels and other accounts that were associated with state-linked propaganda campaigns from China, Russia, and other regions.

This is not the first time Google has taken action against such content. The internet giant noted in the same bulletin that in May it had terminated 3,592 YouTube channels as part of its investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to China.