Donald Trump has called for Google to face criminal prosecution, claiming the tech giant's search results show bias against him and favor Vice President Kamala Harris.
CNBC reported that Trump alleges that Google is manipulating its search engine to highlight positive coverage of Harris while promoting negative stories about him. The former president shared his thoughts on the matter via a post on his platform, Truth Social.
Trump's accusations were based on a study by the Media Research Center, which claims that Google's search engine results disproportionately feature favorable news about Harris compared to Trump.
The Media Research Center's founder, Brent Bozell, echoed Trump's concerns, accusing Google of "stacking the deck" in favor of Harris.
Trump warned that if the Department of Justice (DOJ) does not prosecute Google for what he calls "election interference," he will take matters into his own hands should he win the presidency in 2024.
Trump made it clear that his frustrations with Google run deep. He claimed that Google is using an "illegal system" to manipulate search results by only showing negative news about him, while promoting what he called "good stories" about Harris.
The former president went on to say that if elected, he would pursue legal action against Google unless the DOJ acted on the issue first.
Bozell, the founder of the Media Research Center, supported Trump’s claims, suggesting that Google is deliberately tilting the scales in Harris's favor.
According to the study the center conducted, the search engine consistently showed more positive articles about the vice president than about Trump.
In response to the accusations, a spokesperson from Google firmly denied any manipulation of search results to benefit one candidate over another. They explained that search results are based on the web content available at the time and that the results fluctuate as the news landscape changes.
The Google representative further clarified that both Trump and Harris's campaign websites consistently rank at the top for common and relevant search terms.
The company also noted that the study cited by Trump and the Media Research Center was based on a single rare search term from one specific day, which does not accurately represent the broader pattern of search results.
Trump's latest comments add to his long-standing critique of big tech companies, including Google, Facebook, and Twitter.
Throughout his political career, Trump has frequently accused these companies of harboring bias against conservative viewpoints. His latest demand for Google's prosecution is part of a broader pattern of grievances aimed at what he perceives as interference in the political process.
While Trump has repeatedly alleged that big tech platforms are working against him and other conservatives, Google continues to reject claims of bias. In this instance, the company pointed to the fact that Trump’s campaign website often appears higher in search results than on other search engines.
As of now, Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign has not responded to Trump's accusations. Furthermore, no immediate comment has been provided by the Department of Justice regarding Trump’s demand for prosecution. The former president, however, has made it clear that he expects action from the DOJ and that failing to do so could result in him taking legal steps if he returns to office.
This is not the first time Trump has engaged in a public dispute with a major tech company. During his presidency, Trump frequently clashed with social media companies over what he viewed as unfair treatment of conservative voices. His calls for regulation or prosecution of tech giants have been a consistent theme of his political rhetoric.
Google's defense against Trump’s accusations centers around the constantly evolving nature of search results. According to the company, searches related to political candidates yield results that reflect what is currently trending on the web. These results are based on algorithms designed to showcase the most relevant content, rather than favor any particular political figure.
The spokesperson from Google reiterated that there was no deliberate attempt to manipulate the outcome of searches. Additionally, they emphasized that Trump’s claims were based on an isolated instance, pointing out that both candidates’ websites appeared among the top results even in that specific case.
Despite Google's denials, Trump has remained steadfast in his belief that the search engine is engaged in election interference. He has expressed frustration over what he perceives as a coordinated effort by big tech to undermine his political standing in favor of candidates like Kamala Harris.
Trump’s comments reflect a broader concern within certain conservative circles that major tech companies have too much power in shaping public opinion. His threat to prosecute Google should he return to the White House underscores the seriousness with which he views the issue.
While Trump's accusations have drawn attention, neither Harris’s campaign nor the Department of Justice has issued a comment. As the controversy continues, Trump has promised to take action if elected in 2024, leaving open the possibility of future legal battles over big tech's role in the political process.
