Kamala Harris’ campaign team is under scrutiny after a report revealed that they have been silently editing news headlines in Google search results, giving the impression that major news outlets are supportive of her. This deceptive tactic involves altering the headlines and adding a “Paid for by Harris for President” banner without the knowledge of the news outlets themselves.
This manipulative strategy has affected nearly a dozen publishers including The Guardian, Reuters, CBS News, The Associated Press, PBS, and even smaller publications like North Dakota’s WDay Radio. While the ads lead to real articles from these news outlets, their headlines and descriptive text have been edited to create a supportive light towards Kamala Harris.
For instance, one ad paired with an article from The Guardian features a headline that reads “VP Harris Fights Abortion Bans – Harris Defends Repro Freedom,” followed by supporting text claiming she is a champion for reproductive freedom and will stop Trump’s abortion bans. Another linking to an NPR story states, “Harris Will Lower Health Costs,” with additional text saying that Kamala Harris will lower the cost of high-quality affordable health care.
Despite having no knowledge of their involvement in this campaign, representatives from affected companies such as CNN, USA Today, and NPR have expressed their concerns about the use of their trusted brands without permission. The Guardian stated it would reach out to Google for more information on this practice.
Although misleading, this tactic does not violate Google’s policies since the ads are clearly labeled as “sponsored” and easily distinguishable from search results. This revelation comes at a time when Kamala Harris is avoiding significant interviews and news appearances since winning the presidential nominee more than three weeks ago. Her campaign has not responded to requests for comment on this issue.
