Former President Donald Trump has made waves with a recent announcement that he intends to seek the criminal prosecution of Google upon his return to the presidency. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused the tech giant of engaging in “illegal activity” by manipulating search results to portray him negatively while favorably showcasing Vice President Kamala Harris. He explicitly stated that this behavior amounts to “blatant Interference of Elections,” and he hopes the Justice Department will act against Google. If it fails to do so, Trump vowed to push for maximum prosecution levels when he regains power and becomes the President of the United States again.
Trump’s claims have been fueled by various studies indicating potential biases in Google’s search algorithms that impact electoral candidates. A recent report by the Media Research Center (MRC) highlighted these disparities, asserting that Google has been intentionally skewing search results to favor Kamala Harris. The study’s findings indicated that, during a search for the 2024 presidential race involving both Trump and Harris, Trump’s campaign website appeared significantly lower in the results, often overshadowed by articles from partisan news sources known for their negative portrayal of him.
In light of this research, MRC President Brent Bozell emphasized the seriousness of the situation, labeling Google’s actions as “blatant interference” in the electoral process. Beyond Trump and Harris, these searches also suggested that other political figures, particularly pro-life candidates, faced similar disadvantages in online visibility. This perception of bias has raised concerns over the integrity of search results in the lead-up to a highly charged election season, and accusations of election interference have gained traction as a result.
Further compounding Trump’s claims, a separate MRC study released earlier in the year showed that a search for Joe Biden yielded his campaign website at the top, while Trump’s website failed to rank anywhere on the first page of results. This trend indicated a pattern of pro-Democratic and anti-Republican bias manifested in how search results were curated. Trump’s grievance against Google appears quintessentially linked to the perception that he and other Republicans are systematically being sidelined online.
Adding to the controversy, it was revealed that Google had censored terms related to an assassination attempt against Trump that occurred during a recent rally. Users reported that Google’s auto-complete feature neglected to suggest the recent event when typing related searches, instead offering results linked to historical assassinations. Google defended itself, claiming that no manual censorship was involved and attributing the absence of suggestions to their algorithmic safeguards against political violence.
Starting a campaign against a prominent tech company during an election season could escalate tensions surrounding the fair play of online platforms and their influence in politics. With Trump amplifying complaints of Google’s alleged bias, the broader discussion about the responsibilities of tech companies in shaping public discourse and electoral outcomes is becoming increasingly critical. Reports from individuals and organisations exploring this interference will continue, revealing not only the political implications but also the enduring debate over the intersection of technology, free speech, and elections.
