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In a major YouTube crackdown, Google suspended nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and affiliated accounts during the second quarter of 2025. The accounts were allegedly involved in coordinated influence operations. This included nations like China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and others, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) said in its latest report.
The latest crackdown, reported by Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) for Q2 2025, marks one of the largest efforts yet by a tech platform to combat covert online influence operations.
Among the nearly 11,000 accounts taken down in the YouTube crackdown and social media cleanup, over 7,700 channels could be traced back to China. The accounts produced material in Chinese and English with a strong emphasis on serving as channels for promotion. This included celebrating Chinese President Xi Jinping, and casting a negative light on US foreign policy.
The material tended to combine harmless themes, such as lifestyle and travel. They incorporated subtle political messages to make them appear realistic. Google indicated that this strategy aligns with Beijing’s overall policy of leveraging social media for soft power, targeting both local and international audiences.
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Google also removed more than 2,000 YouTube channels linked to Russia, many of which promoted pro-Kremlin digital disinformation. These channels created content in various languages advocating for Russia’s occupation of Ukraine, criticizing NATO, and denigrating Western governments.
Previously, in May, Google independently took down 20 YouTube channels, four Ad accounts, and one Blogger blog associated with RT (Russia Today), the Russian state-owned news network. As of March 2022, the principal YouTube channel of RT was banned worldwide. There is a persistent effort to bypass the platform bans through proxy accounts, as revealed by the latest removals.
The Google threat analysis report also indicated state-sponsored activities from Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Romania, and Ghana. They targeted different subjects, some to disparage political rivals, while others aimed to influence opinions about current conflicts, like the war between Israel and Palestine.
At the same time, Meta also announced it shut down almost 10 million phantom accounts during the first half of 2025. Many of the accounts were impersonating public figures and creators to promote spam and disinformation on Facebook and Instagram.
As global elections and geopolitical tensions escalate, tech giants are being pressed to take expedient measures against influence campaigns that are increasing in sophistication and elusiveness. The takedowns reflect how disinformation has become a key geopolitical tool. Tech platforms now face growing pressure to act swiftly while balancing free speech and neutrality.
