Google and YouTube

In an era where information is power, the world’s most powerful search engine and video platform stand accused of something darker than monopoly—collaboration with authoritarian regimes, algorithmic censorship, and even the erasure of history, such as grassroots movements like Occupy Chicago.

1. Censorship and Complicity with Authoritarianism

Google’s development of Project Dragonfly — a censored search engine designed for China — revealed the company’s willingness to blacklist topics like “Tiananmen Square,” “free speech,” and “human rights” in exchange for market access. Although the project was canceled after public outcry and internal revolt, it proved that ethics came second to opportunity.

YouTube, Google’s crown jewel, has likewise been accused of silencing dissidents — removing videos documenting Uyghur internment camps, protests in Hong Kong, and even satire critical of authoritarian figures. These removals often align with the policies of repressive regimes more than democratic ideals.

2. Erasing History: The Case of Occupy Chicago

Activists from Occupy Chicago allege that content documenting their 2011 movement has disappeared or been buried under algorithmic noise. Videos, livestreams, and firsthand accounts once hosted on YouTube are now harder to find—not removed by force, but by design.

The memory hole isn’t just a metaphor—it’s a system. Google’s algorithms, prioritizing engagement and advertiser comfort, quietly bury politically inconvenient content. In a digital world where visibility means legitimacy, invisibility equals erasure.

3. Surveillance and Privacy Abuses

From Street View cars intercepting Wi-Fi data to secret data-sharing projects with healthcare systems (Project Nightingale), Google has repeatedly harvested sensitive personal data without consent. Critics argue these actions go beyond corporate overreach—they mirror the surveillance practices of the regimes Google claims to oppose.

4. Monopoly with a Censorship Twist

A U.S. federal judge recently ruled that Google built an illegal monopoly through exclusive deals with smartphone makers. But the consequences aren’t just economic. When one company controls what billions of people see and search, its internal values become global filters.

In Europe, a $2.3 billion lawsuit by 32 media groups accuses Google of suffocating independent journalism through rigged ad markets. The lawsuit suggests that Google doesn’t just dominate—it decides who gets to speak and who gets paid to be heard.

Final Thoughts

Google and YouTube were once seen as liberating forces. But their actions tell a different story: strategic silence, algorithmic erasure, and selective amplification. From Occupy to Xinjiang, from whistleblowers to journalists, the most powerful voices often aren’t the loudest—they’re the ones you can’t find.

Sources (Selective and Powerful)