13 Dec 2025
NGO finds 420 YouTube channels allegedly spreading political misinformation across Europe, operating in English, German, French, Spanish and Polish
Summary
Date Reported: 13 Dec 2025
Location: United Kingdom
Companies
YouTube (part of Alphabet)Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Issues
Access to Information , Freedom of Participation and ElectionsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The Guardian
Action taken: Quotes from The Guardian: "A YouTube spokesperson said: 'Spam and deceptive practices that try to take advantage of the YouTube community are not allowed on the platform, which is why the channels flagged by the Guardian have all been removed. We enforce our policies consistently, regardless of political viewpoint expressed, or how the content is generated. Our teams work around the clock to monitor for harmful content, taking swift action as needed.' YouTube is now working with Reset Tech over its findings. The platform said its systems prominently feature authoritative news content on the YouTube homepage, in search results, and through recommendations. It has removed more than 2.1m channels for violating its community guidelines."
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 13 Dec 2025
Location: Spain
Companies
YouTube (part of Alphabet)Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Issues
Access to Information , Freedom of Participation and ElectionsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The Guardian
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Quotes from The Guardian: "A YouTube spokesperson said: 'Spam and deceptive practices that try to take advantage of the YouTube community are not allowed on the platform, which is why the channels flagged by the Guardian have all been removed. We enforce our policies consistently, regardless of political viewpoint expressed, or how the content is generated. Our teams work around the clock to monitor for harmful content, taking swift action as needed.' YouTube is now working with Reset Tech over its findings. The platform said its systems prominently feature authoritative news content on the YouTube homepage, in search results, and through recommendations. It has removed more than 2.1m channels for violating its community guidelines."
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 13 Dec 2025
Location: Germany
Companies
YouTube (part of Alphabet)Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Issues
Access to Information , Freedom of Participation and ElectionsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The Guardian
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Quotes from The Guardian: "A YouTube spokesperson said: 'Spam and deceptive practices that try to take advantage of the YouTube community are not allowed on the platform, which is why the channels flagged by the Guardian have all been removed. We enforce our policies consistently, regardless of political viewpoint expressed, or how the content is generated. Our teams work around the clock to monitor for harmful content, taking swift action as needed.' YouTube is now working with Reset Tech over its findings. The platform said its systems prominently feature authoritative news content on the YouTube homepage, in search results, and through recommendations. It has removed more than 2.1m channels for violating its community guidelines."
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 13 Dec 2025
Location: Poland
Companies
YouTube (part of Alphabet)Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Issues
Access to Information , Freedom of Participation and ElectionsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The Guardian
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Quotes from The Guardian: "A YouTube spokesperson said: 'Spam and deceptive practices that try to take advantage of the YouTube community are not allowed on the platform, which is why the channels flagged by the Guardian have all been removed. We enforce our policies consistently, regardless of political viewpoint expressed, or how the content is generated. Our teams work around the clock to monitor for harmful content, taking swift action as needed.' YouTube is now working with Reset Tech over its findings. The platform said its systems prominently feature authoritative news content on the YouTube homepage, in search results, and through recommendations. It has removed more than 2.1m channels for violating its community guidelines."
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 13 Dec 2025
Location: France
Companies
YouTube (part of Alphabet)Affected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Issues
Access to Information , Freedom of Participation and ElectionsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The Guardian
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Quotes from The Guardian: "A YouTube spokesperson said: 'Spam and deceptive practices that try to take advantage of the YouTube community are not allowed on the platform, which is why the channels flagged by the Guardian have all been removed. We enforce our policies consistently, regardless of political viewpoint expressed, or how the content is generated. Our teams work around the clock to monitor for harmful content, taking swift action as needed.' YouTube is now working with Reset Tech over its findings. The platform said its systems prominently feature authoritative news content on the YouTube homepage, in search results, and through recommendations. It has removed more than 2.1m channels for violating its community guidelines."
Source type: News outlet
"YouTube channels spreading fake, anti-Labour videos viewed 1.2bn times in 2025" 13 December 2025
YouTube channels spreading fake, anti-Labour videos have amassed more than a billion views this year, as opportunists attempt to use AI-generated content to profit from political division in the UK.
More than 150 channels have been detected in the last year that promote anti-Labour narratives, as well as outright fake and inflammatory accusations about Keir Starmer.
A study seen by the Guardian has found the channels have accumulated 5.3m subscribers and have created more than 56,000 videos, with a total of almost 1.2bn views in 2025. The network of anonymous channels includes alarmist rhetoric, AI scripts and British narrators to attract hits...
...Reset Tech, the non-profit group that produced the research, said the channels were part of a global trend to produce synthetic propaganda on the platform. It pointed to the proliferation of cheap AI tools that could be deployed to make a quick profit from divisive topics...
...Some of the videos and channels were removed by YouTube’s checks. However, all 150 were taken down when the platform was approached by the Guardian. Reset Tech said some channels had created tens or hundreds of similar videos without being deplatformed.
The research found similar channels operating in German, French, Spanish and Polish, targeting other politicians or political issues. In total, it mapped 420 problematic channels operating in Europe. Reset Tech said Russian-speaking creators operate some of the channels...
...A YouTube spokesperson said: “Spam and deceptive practices that try to take advantage of the YouTube community are not allowed on the platform, which is why the channels flagged by the Guardian have all been removed. We enforce our policies consistently, regardless of political viewpoint expressed, or how the content is generated. Our teams work around the clock to monitor for harmful content, taking swift action as needed.”...