Google, YouTube pushes efforts vs misinformation, timely for PH 2022 elections

Google and YouTube pushed efforts to curb misinformation and to boost distribution of credible content ahead of May 2022 elections, protecting its integrity.

In a virtual briefing, YouTube vice president for Product Management Emily Moxley told reporters that YouTube removed over 400,000 videos from February 2021 to January 2022 due to community guidelines violation—the videos contained false information with the intent to mislead, especially concerning voters.

YouTube says that their elections misinformation policies prohibit content that encourages others to interfere with democratic processes and contains hacked information. “Political news and events can be subject to misinformation,” said Moxley. “The availability of authoritative information sources is crucial. Over the last few years, we’ve made deep investments to make YouTube a more reliable source for news, while also maintaining the openness of the platform,” she added.

Google has been seen investing support on media literacy programs. They have also rolled out election related campaign features (region based) thru YouTube app that will be useful to Filipino voters lean more toward credible content and verified information:

Candidate Information Panel provides voters with relevant candidate information regarding presidentiables or vice-presidentiables whenever they search their names on YouTube—the information comes vetted from non-partisan, third-party sources that includes the candidate’s political party, and what office they’re running for.

How to vote Information Panel appears on all YouTube search queries related to “how to vote”. The panel also links to Commission on Elections (COMELEC) website with relevant information, requirements, and the step-by-step voting process.

Youtube features Election Information Panel

Furthermore, Google News Initiative (GNI) also supports fact-checking initiatives and protecting journalists covering the elections.

Google News Lab lead for APAC Irene Liu said that the tech giant has invested in #FactsFirstPH initiative. The said initiative includes different organizations from the media, civil society groups, business organizations, academe, and research and legal groups among others banded together to promote truth and fight misinformation.

Google also tapped the University of the Philippines along with tsek.ph—a fact-checking project led by UP—to develop an election workshop series for journalists already set on March 4 and 5.

Google encourages news organizations to apply under “Project Shield” developed by Jigsaw and Google that employs free protection from DDoS attacks. The program defends journalists against phishing, blocks malware, and prevents fraudulent data access.

“We know journalists are the target of online attacks because what you do is important in disseminating information during the election…This is a program that allows you to have the extra layer of security,” Liu said.