Vlad agents Googled it
THE RUSSIAN propaganda ads that flooded social media during the 2016 presidential election also spread through Google and its major products, including YouTube and Gmail, according to a report Monday.
The search engine giant has uncovered about $100,000 worth of Russian ads aimed at spreading disinformation and disunity, sources familiar with a Google investigation told The Washington Post.
The ads infiltrated Google, Gmail, YouTube and DoubleClick, Google’s advertising network. Altogether, this gave the Kremlin access to the largest online ad business and the largest video website in the world.
According to the report, the ads did not appear to be purchased by the same Kremlin trolls who overwhelmed Facebook with propaganda and fake news — suggesting that the Russian cyberattacks might be even more extensive than previously reported.
Since the Google investigation is not complete, more Russian ads could be discovered.
Google did not comment on the report.
The content of the ads that flowed through Google was not clear.
The report could bring Google the same scrutiny that Facebook and Twitter are now facing from congressional panels investigating Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 race.
Facebook and Twitter have recently revealed that Russian troll farms sent thousands of paid advertisements and fake news stories through the social media sites to promote chaos and divisions among American voters.
The propaganda included ads stirring resentment over divisive issues such as immigration, race relations and gun control.
The ads also promoted Donald Trump, Democratic primary candidate Bernie Sanders and Green Party candidate Jill Stein.
An Oxford University study released Monday found that Russian spammers also targeted American military personnel and veterans on the social networks, spreading conspiracy theories and conservative news through anonymous accounts.
Facebook said the Russian ads reached at least 10 million of its 210 million American users. Twitter shut down more than 200 accounts tied to Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Executives from Facebook and Twitter will testify before Congress in November. No testimony has been arranged for Google.