Pro-Chinese disinformation: Google removes 1000 domains from Google News
Four companies with apparently one client are said to have attempted to spread "news" in Beijing's interests via hundreds of websites.
(Image: Photo Kozyr/Shutterstock.com)
Over the past two years, Google has excluded more than 1,000 websites from Google News and Google Discover that were disguised as supposedly independent news portals but were intended to promote Chinese positions. This was announced by the US company's Threat Intelligence Group, which added that all of the sites were operated by just four companies that had violated the guidelines for "misleading behavior and editorial transparency". According to Google, it cannot specify who exactly is behind this, but it gives the impression that it is a "joint customer" that has outsourced the dissemination of propaganda for the People's Republic. This is another example of private PR companies taking on coordinated campaigns to influence public opinion. In this way, those actually responsible could deny any connection.
One company, 600 "news portals"
Based on the domain names, Google has determined that the sites were intended for people in a wide variety of countries. The list includes Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as the USA, Russia, France, Poland, Japan and many more. The Chinese diaspora was also targeted in some cases. One PR company called "Haixun", from which more than 600 domains were removed, stood out. Last year, the company even managed to place "pro-Beijing content" on subdomains of legitimate news portals by offering to distribute press releases. Nevertheless, most of the content was of low quality, and in addition to propaganda, there was also filler material, "for example for metaverse". Another company had created pages that allegedly contained local news.
The approach described in a detailed blog entry shows how certain actors have developed new tactics that go beyond social networks to influence opinions, writes Google. Similar attempts have already been observed by those responsible in Russia and Iran. By presenting their content as independent and often local news sites, they can disguise their content as legitimate. However, this content is created and distributed by PR companies without making the background transparent. The presentation as local and independent reporting is an active misrepresentation. The campaign, known internally as "Glassbridge", will continue to be monitored and the content will be kept away from Google's pages.
(mho)