Google Announces New Master plan to Destroy Independent Media

In anticipation of the upcoming European Union (EU) parliamentary elections and the enforcement of the Digital Services Act, Google is set to launch an extensive anti-misinformation campaign across five EU countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland. The initiative, led by Google’s internal unit Jigsaw, aims to address growing concerns about the impact of misinformation on voter behavior.

The EU has been on high alert, with France, Poland, and Germany accusing Russia of orchestrating an intricate network of websites to disseminate pro-Russian propaganda. As part of the Digital Services Act, which takes effect this week, significant online platforms and search engines are mandated to take more decisive action against illegal content and potential threats to public security.

Jigsaw’s campaign, building on previous successful efforts in Germany and central Europe, will utilize animated ads on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. The targeted countries were chosen strategically, considering their significant voter populations within the EU, and leveraging Google’s local expertise in these regions.

The ads will incorporate innovative “prebunking” techniques, developed in collaboration with researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol. The primary goal of prebunking is to empower viewers to identify manipulative content before encountering it. Specifically, YouTube viewers will be encouraged to participate in a brief multiple-choice questionnaire designed to assess their understanding of misinformation.

Beth Goldberg, head of research at Jigsaw, emphasized the critical nature of addressing polarized debates for the preservation of democracy. Prebunking, she noted, stands out as a technique effective across the political spectrum, distinguishing it from measures like post-spread fact-checking, which can contribute to further polarization.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, last month, an investigation by the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) uncovered 750 incidents of deliberately spread misleading information by foreign actors, many expressing support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

To ensure broad accessibility, Jigsaw’s ads will be translated into all 24 official EU languages. The campaign is scheduled to run for a minimum of one month, with the possibility of extension based on its reach and performance. Google intends to release comprehensive results, encompassing survey responses and outreach metrics, in the summer of 2024. This initiative signifies a proactive step by Google to combat misinformation and uphold the integrity of the EU elections amidst a complex digital landscape.