Harris Campaign Caught Editing Google Search Ads to Make it Look Like Major News Outlets Support Her

Election, Harris /
Share This:

This article comes from “infowars.com”

The Kamala Harris campaign has been editing news headlines and descriptions in Google search ads that make it look like major news outlets are “on her side,” Axios reported.

Axios reported that the mainstream media found itself “in a tough spot” in light of the revelations that the Harris campaign was altering their headlines within Google search ads in Kamala’s favor over the last couple of weeks.

Screen shots of Harris for President Google Search ads
screenshot/Axios

The liberal outlet also acknowledged that “the Trump campaign isn’t running these types of ads,” but added that “this technique has been used by campaigns before.”

The Harris campaign has been editing news headlines and descriptions within Google search ads that make it appear as if the Guardian, Reuters, CBS News and other major publishers are on her side, Axios has found.

It’s a common practice in the commercial advertising world that doesn’t violate Google’s policies, but the ads mimic real news results from Search closely enough that they have news outlets caught off guard.

    According to Google’s ad transparency center, the Trump campaign isn’t running these types of ads, but this technique has been used by campaigns before.

    The ads say that they are sponsored, but it’s not immediately clear that the text that accompanies real news links is written by the campaigns and not by the media publication itself.

    Responding to the practice, a source “familiar” with the Harris campaign claimed the news ad buys were meant “to give voters searching for information about Vice President Harris more context.”

    The Guardian, one of the outlets caught up in the Harris campaign’s deceptive practice, said in a statement that it will be consulting with Google about its advertising practices.

    “While we understand why an organization might wish to align itself with the Guardian’s trusted brand, we need to ensure it is being used appropriately and with our permission. We’ll be reaching out to Google for more information about this practice,” a Guardian spokesperson said.

    But the Harris campaign used a dozen other news publishers for the search ads to reinforce the impression that the media supports her.

    Since August 3rd, nearly a dozen news companies have been used in these types of search ads from the Harris campaign, Axios found.

    Examples include The Independent UK, NPR, AP, The Guardian, USA Today, PBS, CNN, CBS News, Time and others, including local outlets like North Dakota radio station WDAY Radio.

    The ads include links to real articles from the news outlets, but the headlines and supporting text have been altered to read as though the articles support the Harris campaign’s objectives.

    For example, an ad that ran alongside an article from The Guardian shows a headline that reads “VP Harris Fights Abortion Bans – Harris Defends Repro Freedom” and then includes supporting text underneath the headline that reads, “VP Harris is a champion for reproductive freedom and will stop Trump’s abortion bans.”

    An ad featuring a link to an NPR story reads, “Harris Will Lower Health Costs,” with supporting text that says, “Kamala Harris will lower the cost of high-quality affordable health care.”

    The media outlets involved claimed “they were unaware their brand was being featured this way.”

    Although Google insisted its disclosures are clear enough to “keep voters from being misled”, Axios lamented that the Harris campaign’s deceptive actions “could leave media outlets further vulnerable to charges of partisanship” given the public already distrusts the press.

    Judging by the harsh responses on X over its report, it looks like Axios’ worst fears have already been realized.

    Share This: