Russia Used Google As Propaganda Machine During 2016 US Elections, Fake News And Ads

It would seem that Facebook has been taking on an unfair amount of heat for its role in allowing Russia to undermine US democracy during the 2016 presidential elections. Google just discovered that it was used to spread propaganda, as well. A source within the company disclosed details regarding Russian operatives apparently using the Gmail and YouTube platforms in an effort to skew the results of the election.

Russia using Google to interfere with the recent US elections really would not come as a surprise to anyone paying attention. Kremlin-backed trolls were already spreading misinformation via social media platforms. YouTube and Gmail are just two in Russia’s tool belt in messing with the US, as Google recently found out, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

Just as Russian elements spent a fortune buying Facebook ads, it would seem that Vladimir Putin’s gang also did the same with Google ads. Apparently, thousands of dollars were spent buying up ad space to spread fake news. The company did not directly confirm the reports, however, and would only comment on its investigation into possible abuses of its advertising policies, CNET reports.

"We have a set of strict ads policies including limits on political ad targeting and prohibitions on targeting based on race and religion," Google said via a spokesperson. "We are taking a deeper look to investigate attempts to abuse our systems, working with researchers and other companies, and will provide assistance to ongoing inquiries."

What is interesting about this development is the fact that the group responsible for buying the Google ads do not appear to be the same elements responsible for fake Facebook ads. This brings up the disturbing possibility of a widespread Russian-funded effort to completely destabilize the US democratic system and tech industry by targeting Silicon Valley companies, which have become the country’s economic backbone.