Washington Post: Google uncovers Russian-bought ads on YouTube, Gmail and other platform
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.
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WNU Editor: So spending a few thousand dollars on Google platforms has more of an impact than the billions that were spent elsewhere in influencing the U.S. Presidential election. My advice to these "Russian operatives" is that they should set up a consulting company specialising on elections in the U.S. .... they are clearly far more effective than the existing high cost firms whose focus is on winning elections. On a side note, Microsoft is now investigating if they were also "used" .... Microsoft Investigates 'Inappropriate' Pro-Trump Russian Ads on Bing Search Engine (Newsweek)
More News On Reports That Google Believes Russian Operatives Used Their Platform To Influence The U.S. Presidential Election
Google Uncovered Russia-Backed Ads on YouTube, Gmail : Source -- US News and World Report/Reuters
How Russia Harvested American Rage to Reshape US Politics -- New York Times
Google uncovers Russia-linked ad campaigns aimed at manipulating US election -- DW
Google discovers operatives spent thousands on Russian-backed ads during US election: reports -- ABC News Online
Google investigating $100000 worth of shadowy Russian-bought adverts -- The Telegraph
Google 'uncovers Russian ad campaign linked to US election' -- BBC
Google Unearths Russia-Backed Ads Related to US Politics on Its Platforms -- Wall Street Journal
It's More Than Just Facebook—Russian Accounts Bought Ads on Google, YouTube, and Gmail -- GQ Magazine
