Google set to censor Russian news across internet

Google set to censor Russian news across internet

Eric Schmidt, the chief executive of Google's parent company Alphabet, says the internet giant must act, and other tech companies must join, actions against state-run Russian news agencies RT.com and Sputnik to stop the spread of falsehoods.
Eric Schmidt, the chief executive of Google's parent company Alphabet, says the internet giant must act, and other tech companies must join, actions against state-run Russian news agencies RT.com and Sputnik to stop the spread of falsehoods.

HALIFAX, Canada: Eric Schmidt, the chief executive of Google’s parent company Alphabet, said Tuesday the search engine is preparing to take action against state-run Russian news agencies.

He singled out Russia Today (known as RT.com) as well as Sputnik, which are accused by US intelligence agencies of spreading propaganda.

Russia's communication watchdog Roskomnadzor said it would consider retaliatory measures against Google over any such action involving Russian media outlets, Interfax news agency reported.

Speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum, Mr Schmidt said: "We're well aware of this one, and we're working on detecting this kind of scenario you're describing and deranking those kinds of sites."

He then named two of Russia's biggest media outlets: RT, a TV and online news organisation, and Sputnik, an online media network.

"I am strongly not in favour of censorship. I am very strongly in favour of ranking. It's what we do," he added. "It's a very legitimate question as to how we rank, A or B, right? And we do the best we can in millions and millions of rankings every day," said Mr Schmidt.

But he added that it was a constant tug-of-war altering the search giant's algorithms to detect "weaponised" information because those seeking to manipulate the news agenda "will get better tools too".

The comments drew an angry response from the two publications, which have always defended themselves as legitimate news organisations.

"Good to have Google on record as defying all logic and reason: facts aren't allowed if they come from RT, 'because Russia' - even if we have Google on Congressional record saying they've found no manipulation of their platform or policy violations by RT," Sputnik and RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said in a statement published on RT.

Sputnik published an editorial cartoon lampooning Google as a censor, removing some content while boosting other news outlets.

Twitter announced last month that it would no longer allow advertisements from RT and Sputnik, so the new Google attitude on censoring news was not a major surprise to industry experts.

In a letter to the US Federal Election Commission early this month, Google said that it "strongly supports" tightening rules on online political advertising as part of efforts to curtail "foreign abuse and influence" in elections.

"Now more than ever, we must work together to improve transparency, enhance disclosures and reduce foreign abuse and influence in US elections," the company wrote.

That letter marked an about-face from 2010 when Google sought an affirmative exemption from a requirement that an ad should state who purchased it. The commission did not reach a consensus on the exemption at the time.

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