{"id":1721519,"date":"2022-11-02T12:28:16","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T16:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1721519"},"modified":"2022-11-02T12:34:18","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T16:34:18","slug":"study-google-punishing-republicans-who-speak-out-against-big-tech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/study-google-punishing-republicans-who-speak-out-against-big-tech\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: Google Punishing Republicans Who Speak Out Against Big Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstudy-google-punishing-republicans-who-speak-out-against-big-tech%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1721519&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p class=\"speakable\">Google is &#8220;punishing Republicans&#8221; who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/topics\/big-tech-backlash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">speak out against Big Tech<\/a>, according to the conservative Media Research Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">MRC Free Speech America has conducted a series of studies related to Google\u2019s treatment of Republicans ahead of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/elections\/midterm-elections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">critical midterm elections<\/a>. Despite Google&#8217;s vehement denials of any wrongdoing, the conservative media watchdog believes Google &#8220;does change its algorithm to benefit certain political candidates,&#8221;\u00a0and is focused on the Senate because its &#8220;search bias&#8221; didn\u2019t carry over to House races where the GOP is already favored.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/640\/320\/google_search_reuters.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Google is \" punishing Republicans \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n      Google is &#8220;punishing Republicans&#8221; who speak out against Big Tech, according to the Media Research Center.\u00a0<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(REUTERS\/Francois Lenoir)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/google-targeting-senate-after-study-shows-search-bias-doesnt-impact-house-media-research-center-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>GOOGLE \u2018TARGETING SENATE\u2019 AFTER STUDY SHOWS \u2018SEARCH BIAS\u2019 DOESN\u2019T IMPACT HOUSE, MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER SAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The latest study focused on 10 key races in the House and Senate involving sitting lawmakers who have spoken out against Big Tech. MRC said its findings indicated Google &#8220;severely buried or did not even display several Republicans\u2019 campaign websites&#8221; if they have acted aggressively toward Big Tech.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In fact, the search giant completely hid six of 10 Republicans\u2019 campaign websites from the first page of results,&#8221; MRC associate editor Brian Bradley wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Google did not show Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul\u2019s campaign website on its front page of search results but showed his Democrat challenger Charles Booker\u2019s campaign website as the first result. Paul, who is up for re-election, has been a frequent critic of Big Tech,&#8221; Bradley added. &#8220;Google buried [Colorado] Rep. Ken Buck\u2019s campaign website as the 15th result out of 20 on the first page, while elevating his challenger Democrat Ike McCorkle\u2019s campaign website to the No. 3 spot in the search results. Buck has introduced legislation that would strengthen antitrust actions brought against industries including Big Tech.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 767px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/640\/320\/google.jpg?ve=1&#038;tl=1\" alt=\"Google has denied that it manipulates search results.\u00a0\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p>\n      Google has denied that it manipulates search results.\u00a0<br \/>\n      <span class=\"copyright\">(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/midterm-elections-google-manipulates-search-engine-results-against-republicans-media-research-center-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>MIDTERM ELECTIONS: GOOGLE MANIPULATES SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS AGAINST REPUBLICANS, MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER SAYS<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The study found that results for search competitors Bing and DuckDuckGo were more neutral than Google, according to Bradley. The study examined races involving Republican Big Tech critics Rep. Andy Biggs, Rep. Greg Steube, Rep. Matt Gaetz, Sen. John Kennedy, Sen. John Thune, Rep. Chip Roy, Sen. Mike Lee and Sen. Ron Johnson, in addition to Sen. Paul and Rep. Buck. The MRC found that a Democrat or independent was favored by Google\u2019s search results <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/senate\/republicans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">over the Republican<\/a> in each instance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>MRC founder and president Brent Bozell believes Google is flatly interfering with elections.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;First, Google was caught sending GOP emails to spam. Then we found Google suppressing the campaign websites of Republican Senate candidates. Now, we have evidence that Google is punishing Republicans who dared to speak out or take action against Big Tech by hiding their campaign websites in search results. If this isn\u2019t election interference, I don\u2019t know what is,&#8221; Bozell told Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Google has repeatedly dismissed the notion that it manipulates search results when reached by Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We\u2019ve repeatedly shown that this methodology is deeply flawed and doesn\u2019t represent how most people search on Google. We don\u2019t manipulate search results in any way to promote or disadvantage any particular political ideology, viewpoint or candidate \u2013 and third-party research consistently shows that our results are not politically-biased,&#8221; a Google spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/censorship-free-web-browser-emphasis-free-speech-helps-conservatives-combat-big-tech-founder-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>CENSORSHIP-FREE WEB BROWSER WITH EMPHASIS ON FREE SPEECH HELPS CONSERVATIVES COMBAT BIG TECH, FOUNDER SAYS<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>District Media Group president Beverly Hallberg knows &#8220;Google is king in the search engine department,&#8221; with the rare distinction of the company name being not just a noun, but a verb.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;How many times have we told someone, \u2018Just Google it.\u2019 Google holds tremendous power over knowledge, including the information people request on elections,&#8221; Hallberg told Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>She isn\u2019t surprised the dominant search engine is facing allegations of bias, which has become somewhat routine for Google. Last month, The Republican National Committee said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/rnc-says-google-suppressed-22m-gotv-fundraising-emails-september-exploring-legal-options\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google was suppressing<\/a> get-out-the-vote and\u00a0fundraising emails\u00a0by sending millions of GOP election emails to users\u2019 Gmail spam folders \u2013 a claim that Google denied.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For years Google has been accused of prioritizing left-leaning media outlets for searches, and it\u2019s not surprising that accusations have flowed over into the highly contested Senate races where Democrats are trying to hang on,&#8221; Hallberg said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The good news of MRC\u2019s report is it gives Americans more information on Google. It\u2019s then up to us to decide if we want to move to a different search engine like Bing or DuckDuckGo,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;If Google faces more competition, my bet is that you\u2019ll [see] more conservative politicians, media outlets, and perspectives pop up. It won\u2019t be coincidental.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbusters.org\/blogs\/free-speech\/gabriela-pariseau\/2022\/10\/25\/google-caught-manipulating-search-buries-gop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MRC unveiled its findings<\/a>\u00a0that focused on 12 Senate races identified as important to watch. It revealed campaign websites for 10 Republicans among the 12 tight races were found significantly lower on results pages compared to their opponent\u2019s sites among organic search results.<\/p>\n<p>Seven\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/senate\/republicans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Republican candidate websites<\/a>\u00a0were completely hidden from the first page of Google search results, according to the MRC. While Republicans were hidden, eight Democratic candidates had websites that were promoted within the first six results on Google.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Google denied any wrongdoing when reached by Fox News Digital after the original MRC report on Senate candidates. The MRC then followed-up with another study, using the same methodology but in 36 House races, where polling indicates control doesn\u2019t hang in the balance.\u00a0Since the &#8220;search bias&#8221; didn\u2019t carry over to House races, the Bozell said &#8220;Google deliberately manipulated data for the Senate races.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Google also denied any wrongdoing when the House study was released.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&#038;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&#038;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Google cited third-party studies in The Economist and from Stanford University that found its search results aren&#8217;t biased based on political viewpoints. Stanford&#8217;s study said Google&#8217;s search analysis emphasized so-called authoritative sources.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Google also said that, regarding the question of why campaign sites didn&#8217;t always show up high in searches, its algorithms interpret the intent behind the search term &#8220;Senate race&#8221; as someone who is looking for the latest news on a certain contest, so news articles frequently appear up top.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><i>Fox News\u2019 David Rutz and Peter Hasson contributed to this report.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p><i>Brian Flood is a media reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"mailto:brian.flood@fox.com\" id=\"LPlnk367574\"><i>brian.flood@fox.com<\/i><\/a><i>\u00a0and on Twitter: @briansflood.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google is &#8220;punishing Republicans&#8221; who speak out against Big Tech, according to the conservative Media Research Center.\u00a0MRC Free Speech America has conducted a series of studies related to Google\u2019s treatment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1721523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[547],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1721519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bongino-report"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1721519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1721519"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1721519\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1721523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1721519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1721519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1721519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}