Google Wipes Out 11,000+ YouTube Channels in Crackdown on China-Linked Propaganda Network
Google has terminated over 11,000 YouTube channels in a sweeping move to shut down state-linked propaganda efforts, primarily tied to China and other geopolitical actors.
According to Google’s latest Threat Analysis Group (TAG) bulletin for June, the company axed 2,598 YouTube channels and blocked one domain from appearing on Google News and Discover. These accounts were part of a coordinated influence operation linked to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), aiming to sway public opinion on sensitive foreign policy issues.
The deleted channels pushed content in both Chinese and English, often revolving around China’s global image and US-China relations. Google said these actions align with patterns they’ve observed in earlier investigations.
Separately, a CNBC report highlighted that YouTube removed nearly 11,000 accounts in Q2 of 2025 tied to influence campaigns from China, Russia and other countries. These channels were part of wider operations to manipulate narratives across borders.
This isn’t new territory for Google. In May, the tech giant had already terminated 3,592 channels in a similar investigation into China-linked disinformation efforts. The trend signals a growing urgency among tech platforms to curb the spread of covert propaganda.
