That’s something Google has never said, and by its own admission, Google was removing nearly 11,000 YouTube channels and accounts. These were connected to state-supported propaganda efforts from China, Russia, and others in Q2 2025. This major step, taken today, is indicative of this social media network’s longterm commitment to fight misinformation and advance the credibility of content on its platform.
Most of the channels removed had a positive and flattering portrayal of the People’s Republic of China, and President Xi Jinping himself. They revealed their impressions of U.S. foreign affairs. They removed more than 7,700 channels associated with the Chinese government. Furthermore, over 2,000 Russia-linked channels were removed. The Russian content almost exclusively focused on attacking Ukraine, NATO, and Western countries, exemplifying the geopolitical issues we are experiencing today.
Tim Pool, Dave Rubin, and Benny Johnson have produced original content exclusively for Tenent Media. This Nashville-based company is the largest of 19 companies that appears in an indictment reported on by NBC News. These associations do raise important concerns. Beyond the Beltway They focus on the outsized ability of domestic content creators to shape public conversations on foreign policy.
In response to inquiries about the removal of these channels, a YouTube spokesperson stated, “The findings from the most recent update are in line with our expectations of this regular and ongoing work.” This announcement highlights the platform’s apparent eagerness to proactively flag and, in some cases, remove content that is patently false or otherwise harmful.
Complementing YouTube’s moves, Meta has made similar strides to tackle misinformation. The company reported removing approximately 10 million profiles for impersonating large content producers during the first half of 2025 in an effort to combat what it described as “spammy content.”
YouTube has previously taken steps to prevent foreign interference. The $800 billion social media platform started censoring RT channels in March 2022, only a few weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. This forward-looking tactic is meant to combat the spread of misinformation that might otherwise sway public opinion or sour international relations.
As various tech companies grapple with the challenges posed by misinformation, both YouTube and Meta continue to refine their strategies. Their coordinated steps are illustrative of a larger wave of accountability and transparency being brought to social media platforms.