YouTube Removes 11,000 Channels Over Russian and Chinese Propaganda

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YouTube has removed nearly 11,000 channels associated with state-led propaganda campaigns, most linked to China and Russia, Google revealed in its latest quarterly report on security threats to its platforms.

According to the technology company, more than 7,700 removed channels were associated with pro-China influence networks , such as Spamouflage, also known as Dragonbridge, which use fake accounts to promote content favorable to the Chinese Communist Party, praise Chinese President Xi Jinping, and criticize US foreign policy. Many of the videos were in Chinese and English and focused on sensitive political topics, such as Taiwan or the war in Ukraine.

Another 2,000 channels were associated with Russian propaganda , including content supporting the invasion of Ukraine, attacking NATO, and spreading disinformation about Western countries. Some of these channels were linked to RT, the Russian state-owned channel, which had already been subject to sanctions and restrictions in several jurisdictions.

Google's report also indicates the removal of smaller networks of accounts associated with campaigns originating in countries such as Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Romania, and Ghana. In May, the group had already dismantled an operation linked to RT that involved funding conservative influencers in the United States during the 2024 election cycle.

The technology company emphasizes that these operations are part of a growing trend of abusive use of digital platforms by state actors to influence international public opinion and interfere in democratic processes.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also recently announced the removal of 10 million fake accounts during the first half of the year, in an operation aimed at combating automated content and disinformation networks.

The revelations come at a time of growing international scrutiny over the role of major digital platforms in disseminating propaganda and defending information integrity in geopolitical contexts marked by tensions between major powers.