YouTube’s Global Disinformation Purge: Thousands of State-Linked Propaganda Channels Deleted

Google has announced a sweeping crackdown on state-sponsored disinformation, revealing the removal of nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and associated accounts in the second quarter of the year. This aggressive action targets sophisticated propaganda campaigns orchestrated by various national actors, including China and Russia, as part of Google’s ongoing commitment to combat online influence operations.

A significant portion of the recent takedowns, over 7,700 YouTube channels, were directly linked to China. These networks predominantly disseminated content in both Chinese and English, consistently promoting the People’s Republic of China’s narrative, expressing strong support for President Xi Jinping, and offering commentary on U.S. foreign affairs.

The purge also impacted over 2,000 channels originating from Russia. Content from these channels, published in multiple languages, aimed to bolster pro-Russia sentiment while simultaneously criticizing Ukraine, NATO, and Western policies. Among the notable removals in May were 20 YouTube channels, 4 Google Ads accounts, and a Blogger blog connected to RT, the Russian state-controlled media outlet.

RT has previously faced accusations of engaging prominent conservative influencers to disseminate social media content ahead of the 2024 election. Reports indicate that figures like Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson — known supporters of President Donald Trump — produced material for Tenent Media, a Tennessee-based company cited in an indictment related to these alleged activities. YouTube had already initiated blocks on RT channels in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

These proactive removals are integral to the mission of Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG), a dedicated team focused on identifying and disrupting global disinformation campaigns and “coordinated influence” operations. Their work underscores the persistent challenges posed by state-backed efforts to manipulate online narratives.

Beyond China and Russia, Google’s Q2 report also detailed the dismantling of influence campaigns traced to Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Romania, and Ghana. These operations were primarily found to be targeting political rivals within their respective regions, with some specifically focusing on escalating geopolitical conflicts, including narratives surrounding both sides of the Israel-Palestine War.

A spokesperson for YouTube affirmed the continuity of these efforts, stating, “The findings from the most recent update are in line with our expectations of this regular and ongoing work.” The scale of these operations is considerable, building upon more than 23,000 accounts taken down by Google in the first quarter alone.

The tech industry broadly is stepping up its fight against manipulated content. Last week, Meta announced its own efforts, removing approximately 10 million profiles in the first half of 2025. These profiles were identified as impersonating large content producers, part of Meta’s broader initiative to combat “spammy content” and maintain platform integrity.