Google Removes Nearly 11,000 YouTube Channels for State-Sponsored Propaganda in Q2 2025

Key Points

• Google removed nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and accounts globally in Q2 2025 due to coordinated state-sponsored propaganda campaigns.
• Over 7,700 channels were linked to China, focusing on pro-government narratives and criticism of Western policies.
• More than 2,000 channels were tied to Russia, promoting Krymlin-friendly content and attacking Ukraine, NATO, and the West.
• Accounts related to state-backed campaigns from Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Romania, and Ghana were also terminated for spreading disinformation.
• Since January 2025, Google has taken down more than 30,000 YouTube channels and accounts engaged in misinformation efforts.

New Delhi: Google has escalated its efforts against disinformation networks by removing nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and related accounts in the second quarter of 2025. The crackdown, detailed in Google’s latest Threat Analysis Group (TAG) bulletin and confirmed by CNBC, is part of a broader push to disrupt influence operations run by state actors across multiple countries.

China-Linked Channels Led the Takedown

Among the accounts removed, over 7,700 channels were primarily linked to China. These channels produced content in both Chinese and English, aiming to shape international perception by:

• Supporting the Chinese government and President Xi Jinping
• Commenting on US foreign policy and critiquing the West
• Utilizing coordinated, multilingual strategies to sway both local and global opinion

These efforts were part of sophisticated campaigns working to propagate the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) interests across various geopolitical issues.

Russian Disinformation Networks Targeted

Google also dismantled more than 2,000 Russian-linked YouTube channels in Q2. Key characteristics included:

• Producing content in several languages Russian, English, Ukrainian, and more
• Promoting pro-Russia narratives and attacking Ukraine, NATO, and Western nations
• Leveraging state-affiliated outlets and consulting firms to execute these campaigns

Significantly, Google terminated accounts connected to Russia’s state-controlled media organization RT, including 20 YouTube channels, four advertising accounts, and one blog, building on earlier restrictions dating back to March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Additional Influence Campaigns Uncovered

The Q2 sweep extended beyond China and Russia. Google acted against networks tied to:

• Azerbaijan
• Iran
• Turkey
• Israel
• Romania
• Ghana

These networks were typically involved in targeting political rivals, spreading misinformation about elections, and fueling divisive narratives related to the Israel-Palestine conflict and regional politics.

2025 Year-to-Date: Over 30,000 Accounts Removed

With these actions, the total number of YouTube channels and accounts removed by Google in 2025 exceeds 30,000 a testament to the growing scale and sophistication of global digital influence operations. Efforts have included blocking related websites from appearing in Google News and Discover, as well as enforcement on Google Ads and Blogger platforms.

Why This Matters

This accelerated enforcement demonstrates Google’s commitment to combatting state-led misinformation and coordinated digital manipulation. The removal of these channels sends a strong message against the abuse of major social media platforms for geopolitical influence and election interference.

Table: Breakdown of Q2 2025 YouTube Account Removals

Google says these efforts are part of its ongoing mission to safeguard platform integrity and ensure users have access to trustworthy, accurate content.