Exclusive. Google uncovers Russian-bought ads on YouTube, Gmail and other platforms

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post




By Elizabeth Dwoskin and Adam Entous October 9 at 7:00 AM

SAN FRANCISCO — Google for the first time has uncovered evidence that Russian operatives exploited the company’s platforms in an attempt to interfere in the 2016 election, according to people familiar with the company's investigation.

The Silicon Valley giant has found that tens of thousands of dollars were spent on ads by Russian agents who aimed to spread disinformation across Google’s many products, which include YouTube, as well as advertising associated with Google search, Gmail, and the company’s DoubleClick ad network, the people said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters that have not been made public. Google runs the world’s largest online advertising business, and YouTube is the world’s largest online video site.

The discovery by Google is also significant because the ads do not appear to be from the same Kremlin-affiliated troll farm that bought ads on Facebook -- a sign that the Russian effort to spread disinformation online may be a much broader problem than Silicon Valley companies have unearthed so far.

Google previously downplayed the problem of Russian meddling on its platforms. Last month, Google spokeswoman Andrea Faville told The Washington Post that the company is "always monitoring for abuse or violations of our policies and we've seen no evidence this type of ad campaign was run on our platforms."



Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/10/09/google-uncovers-russian-bought-ads-on-youtube-gmail-and-other-platforms/?utm_term=.ceacfd0544a5&wpisrc=al_alert-COMBO-exclusive%252Bnational&wpmk=1

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Was there ever any doubt?

You could see from the ads that someone was undermining HRC's strong positions with psychological bludgeoning. Total political gaslighting all the way. You kept saying, 'that mainstream corporate media is just against progressive agenda of any type' but it proved to be more than that.

[sharedvalues]

2. Coincidentally (not) Google discovered these 12 hours after news story on them

Link to tweet

[zipplewrath]

3. Were they here?

I'm curious if they bothered with DU directly, or if they just relied upon the google ads that are displayed here. My impression is that it is way too small for them to bother directly with bots or shills.

[sharedvalues]

4. Someone bothered: see Election night hack

[Eyeball_Kid]

5. A lot of oddities happened around election time.

I remember that a national network broadcast (it may have been a presidential debate) was briefly interrupted by a message promoting Russia. The message had cut into the national broadcast for about 5 seconds. Commenters on the program made note of it, but then it was all forgotten.

And remember the inauguration evening and Kelly Ann Conway? Her goofy tin soldier dress up, presumably with patriotic colors, red, white, and blue, were not quite what it was made out to be. If you can find a photo or a film clip of her appearance at one of the evening events, she's not REALLY wearing the colors of the US flag. No, she's really wearing the colors of the Russian flag. The blue is not the dark, navy blue of the US flag, but the lighter, royal-blue-like color that's on the Russian flag.

[zipplewrath]

6. Guess I was referring to the lead up

I'm more curious about Russian activity specifically on DU. My impression is that it was mostly "2nd hand".