In April 2022, Google's Threat Analysis Group reported removing 188 YouTube channels after an investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to Russia. Additionally, the platform removed more than 1,500 thousand channels linked to China that were uploading spam content in Chinese and foreign affairs content in Chinese and English.
Number of terminated YouTube channels as part of selected Google investigations into coordinated influence operation campaigns in April 2022
Characteristic
Number of terminated YouTube channels
Investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to Russia¹
138
Investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to Russia²
44
Investigation into reported coordinated influence operations linked to Russia³
6
Investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to Slovakia and Germany
3
Investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to Costa Rica
37
Investigation into coordinated influence operations linked to China
Operations linked to Russia: "he campaign was linked to a Russian consulting firm and was sharing content in Russian that was supportive of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin and critical of NATO, Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy."
Operations linked to Russia: " The campaign was linked to the Internet Research Agency (IRA) and was sharing content in Russian, French, Arabic, and Chinese that was supportive of Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea and the Wagner Group’s activity in Ukraine and Africa."
Operations linked to Russia: "The campaign was linked to Russian state-sponsored entities and was sharing content in Russian that was supportive of pro-Russian activity in Ukraine and critical of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny."
Operations linked to Iraq: "The campaign uploaded content in Arabic that was in support of the Iraqi Harakat Hoquq party."
Operations linked to Slovakia and Germany: "The campaign was sharing content in Slovak that was supportive of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s claimed justifications for its invasion of Ukraine. We received leads from Mandiant that supported us in this investigation."
Operations linked to China: "These channels mostly uploaded spammy content in Chinese about music, entertainment, and lifestyle. A very small subset uploaded content in Chinese and English about China and U.S. foreign affairs. These findings are consistent with our previous reports."
Operations linked to Costa Rica: "The campaign was linked to Noelix Media and was sharing content in Spanish that was critical of Costa Rican and Salvadoran politicians and political parties. Our findings are similar to findings reported by Meta."
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Google. (February 28, 2022). Number of terminated YouTube channels as part of selected Google investigations into coordinated influence operation campaigns in April 2022 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293890/terminate-youtube-channels-coordinated-influence-operations/
Google. "Number of terminated YouTube channels as part of selected Google investigations into coordinated influence operation campaigns in April 2022." Chart. February 28, 2022. Statista. Accessed November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293890/terminate-youtube-channels-coordinated-influence-operations/
Google. (2022). Number of terminated YouTube channels as part of selected Google investigations into coordinated influence operation campaigns in April 2022. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293890/terminate-youtube-channels-coordinated-influence-operations/
Google. "Number of Terminated Youtube Channels as Part of Selected Google Investigations into Coordinated Influence Operation Campaigns in April 2022." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Feb 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293890/terminate-youtube-channels-coordinated-influence-operations/
Google, Number of terminated YouTube channels as part of selected Google investigations into coordinated influence operation campaigns in April 2022 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293890/terminate-youtube-channels-coordinated-influence-operations/ (last visited November 22, 2024)
Number of terminated YouTube channels as part of selected Google investigations into coordinated influence operation campaigns in April 2022 [Graph], Google, February 28, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293890/terminate-youtube-channels-coordinated-influence-operations/