• Source:JND
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Google has scaled up its response to state-affiliated disinformation initiatives by terminating nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and related accounts linked to synchronised influence operations originating from China, Russia, Iran, and several other nations. The extensive purges occurred throughout the second quarter of 2025 and form part of the company’s sustained campaign to limit the reach of propaganda across its services.

Majority of Accounts Linked to China

In the findings referenced by CNBC, more than 7,700 of the discontinued channels were identified as components of Chinese influence operations. The accounts primarily disseminated audiovisual material in both Chinese and English, celebrating President Xi Jinping, lauding the People’s Republic of China, and critiquing United States foreign policy.

Russian operations comprised approximately 2,000 remaining channels, which generated multilingual content defending the Kremlin’s strategic objectives and frequently depicting Ukraine, NATO, and Western nations in an unfavourable light.

Previous Actions Against RT and Other Networks

These removals build upon prior initiatives to restrict state-controlled journalism. In May 2025, the company took down 20 YouTube channels, four advertising accounts, and a Blogger account associated with RT, the Kremlin’s media arm. RT’s principal YouTube channels had already been banned in March 2022, shortly after the military intervention in Ukraine commenced.

Other Countries Targeted

Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG) revealed that recent takedowns included propaganda campaigns from Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Romania, and Ghana; all operating with an aim of discrediting political opponents or fuelling global conflicts such as Israel-Palestine war.

Meta Also Intensifies Cleanup

Google’s removals mirror proactive steps already undertaken by other technology platforms. Meta announced the elimination of nearly 10 million fraudulent profiles between January and June 2025. The impersonating accounts, which copied the likeness of prominent influencers, inundated Facebook and Instagram with spam-like posts and links to dubious websites.

Why It Matters

Tech companies are making increasing efforts to combat disinformation and foreign influence operations during an era of global political tensions, by removing harmful content that threatens society online and combatting online propaganda campaigns. Their actions demonstrate both scale and difficulty associated with combatting propaganda campaigns online.