There's more reason to question whether the big tech companies are putting their thumb on the scale or even meddling when it comes to U.S. elections.
New allegations and a federal lawsuit come from the presidential campaign of Democrat Tulsi Gabbard.
According to Gabbard, in the immediate hours after the first Democratic Presidential debate on June 28th, 2019, "millions of Americans were searching online for information about Tulsi Gabbard."
The campaign points to news reports that state Gabbard was the most searched candidate on Google. Then, without any explanation, Gabbard says, Google suspended her Google Ads account.
The following information comes from the Gabbard campaign:
For hours, Tulsi’s campaign advertising account remained offline while Americans everywhere were searching for information about her. During this time, Google obfuscated and dissembled with a series of inconsistent and incoherent reasons for its actions. In the end, Google never explained to us why Tulsi’s account was suspended. Google controls 88 percent of all internet search in the United States – essentially giving it control over our access to information. That’s one reason why Tulsi has been a vocal proponent of breaking up the tech monopolies. And no matter what the motivation was for doing so, Google’s arbitrary and capricious decision to suspend Tulsi’s Google Ads account during a critical moment in our campaign should be of concern to all political candidates and in fact all Americans.
Tulsi Gabbard campaign
Gabbard's campaign has filed a lawsuit against Google in federal court stating that, "Big Tech’s dominance represents a clear and present danger to our democracy."
Google’s discriminatory actions against my campaign are reflective of how dangerous their complete dominance over internet search is, and how the increasing dominance of big tech companies over our public discourse threatens our core American values. This is a threat to free speech, fair elections and to our democracy, and I intend to fight back on behalf of all Americans.
Tulsi Gabbard
Google has repeatedly denied any misconduct or interference involving its product.
Fight improper government surveillance. Support Attkisson v. DOJ and FBI over the government computer intrusions of Attkisson's work while she was a CBS News investigative correspondent. Visit the Attkisson Fourth Amendment Litigation Fund. Click here.
I noted none of the NPR, PRI, WBUR shows even mentioned Gabbard the follow day after the debate. Not one single mention.
It's sad, isn't it? It seems sometimes like they get together in a dark room somewhere and decide what to report and how to report it. These news organizations are so in lock step with each other that if you hear or see one you've seen them all.
Google has been doing this to conservatives for years. It's almost amusing to see Democrats now complain of the same behavior. However, this is too serious to be amused for long. I sure do appreciate your excellent reporting.
Thank you for revealing the truth where ever you find it! You are a TRUE media journalist not a propagandist. In appreciation!
This is about whether multinational corporations which have no respect for the Bill of Rights, will break the nation-state.
When is the government going to do something about the censoring being done by Google? This is not right in America. Google has shut down Dr. Mercola too.
://thevaccinereaction.org/2019/07/google-shuts-down-traffic-to-health-advocate-mercola-com/