Big Tech Announces Plan to Fight So-Called “Election Misinformation”

Google and YouTube announced that they are changing their algorithms to ensure accurate information is promoted in the midterm elections.

The two search platforms announced on Thursday that they were taking actions to guarantee that “authoritative” news sources were prominent during the 2022 midterm elections. YouTube and Google are the latest companies to announce plans for combating what they term “misinformation,” joining social media giants such as Facebook and TikTok.

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“At YouTube, we’re constantly working to make sure we can be a reliable source for timely news and information. That’s why over the years we’ve built policies, systems and teams that raise authoritative content and limit the spread of harmful misinformation,” wrote Leslie Miller, vice president of government affairs and public policy at YouTube, in a blog post. “This work is especially critical when it comes to supporting elections around the world.”

The algorithm will now place “high-quality election news” at the top of related searches, including information from national sources such as PBS and the Wall Street Journal, as well as local ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliates. Search results will also display information panels at the top directing users to Google’s “How to vote” and “How to register to vote” features.

YouTube and Google also plan to implement a panel at the top of search results that will display critical information about federal candidates, including political affiliations and the office they’re running for.

Starting on Election Day, Google and YouTube will display known results on the top of their search results and below relevant YouTube videos. YouTube will also highlight live election coverage and link to results from its front page.

The platform also said it would remove all election content violating its policies. That includes anything that misleads voters on how to vote, encourages interference with the voting process, incites violence, or advances misinformation, which is defined in a separate post.

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YouTube joins several major platforms in outlining plans to counter misinformation and revamp content moderation during the midterm elections. Twitter announced on Aug. 11 that it was incorporating special labels for candidates and releasing “pre-bunks” to combat potential misinformation. TikTok announced its election center on Aug. 17, which will help the video social platform track and monitor the promotion of political content. Meta also said that it was taking actions to stop any potential election or voter interference.