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A study found that on YouTube, 98 percent of searches in Xinjiang turned up videos backed by the Chinese government.
With a result of 88 percent are the news searches on Google and Bing for “Xinjiang”.
The researchers noted that they performed the study looking for the terms during a period of 120 days.
A new study by the Brookings Institution and the Alliance to Secure Democracy highlights that Google and YouTube often give Chinese propaganda outlets a high ranking. in searches on hot political topics, including denials of the abuse of Muslims in Xinjiang and conspiracy theories that the coronavirus originated in a US military laboratory.
The study published this Friday also highlights that “China has exploited search engine results on Xinjiang and COVID-19, two topics that are geopolitically relevant to Beijing.”
Also, the report explains that with a result of 88 percent are Google and Bing news searches of “Xinjiang”, the Chinese region where China has locked up more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims in what critics say. amounting to genocide, have included a Chinese state-backed source in the top 10.
Youtube also appears in the report
Meanwhile, the study also found that on YouTube, 98 percent of searches in Xinjiang showed a Chinese government-backed video in the top 10 results.
The researchers noted that they performed the study looking for the terms during a period of 120 days.
News searches for “Unit 731,” another term related to the theory that the coronavirus leaked from an American lab, are also reportedly littered with Chinese state-sponsored results. So in searches for “Fort Detrick” on YouTube, an average of five Chinese state-sponsored videos appeared in the top 10 results, the researchers said.
Given this, Google explained that it is actively working to combat coordinated operations of influence and censorship while protecting access to information and freedom of expression online.
“Third-party research shows that Google search consistently returns high-quality results, especially when compared to other search engines”a spokesman said in a statement.
Google also said it provides users with YouTube disclaimers with context about the sources of information, including warning users when the media is sponsored by governments.
In the same investigation, researchers said they did not examine search results related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, arguing that the online reach of Chinese state sources is concerning because they are “channeling Kremlin talking points to audiences of all the world”.
US media sought Microsoft’s response but they did not respond, but they did argue to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the study, that it is being reviewed and is always looking to improve.
It is important to mention that while Google search and YouTube are blocked in China, Microsoft operates a Chinese version of Bing that censors results at the request of the government.
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