The campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris has been quietly editing news headlines and descriptions within Google search ads to make it seem as if major news outlets, such as The Guardian, Reuters, and CBS News, are on her side, according to recent reports.
According to an Axios report, the Harris campaign has been using a tactic common in commercial advertising but somewhat unusual in the political realm.
They have been purchasing Google search ads and then editing the headlines and descriptions of real news articles to create the impression that these outlets support Harris’s campaign objectives.
For instance, an ad linked to a Guardian article was altered to read, “VP Harris Fights Abortion Bans – Harris Defends Repro Freedom,” with additional text suggesting Harris is “a champion for reproductive freedom.”
Another ad linked to an NPR story was edited to say, “Harris Will Lower Health Costs,” claiming she would reduce the cost of healthcare.
These edited ads are labeled as “Sponsored,” and according to Google, they do not violate the platform’s rules. However, they are designed to closely mimic real news search results, leading some media outlets to express concern that they could be misleading.
Several media organizations, including CNN, USA Today, and NPR, were unaware that their headlines were being modified in this manner.
A spokesperson for The Guardian noted that while they understand why a campaign might want to align with their trusted brand, they want to ensure that it is used appropriately and with permission. They plan to reach out to Google for more information about this practice.
Although these ads don’t break Google’s rules, the tactic raises questions about transparency and the potential for misleading voters.
While Facebook banned the ability for advertisers to edit text from Instant Article news links in 2017 to prevent the spread of misinformation, Google continues to allow this practice as long as the ads are clearly marked as “Sponsored.”
Google argues that the ads are easily distinguishable from real search results, and a spokesperson for the tech giant explained that additional transparency measures are in place for election ads.
“Election advertisers are required to complete an identity verification process, and we prominently display in-ad disclosures that clearly show people who paid for the ad,” the spokesperson said.
This strategy from the Harris campaign comes at a time when the mainstream media is already facing accusations of bias. By altering headlines to appear more favorable to her campaign, Harris’s team may inadvertently reinforce concerns about media partisanship.
John Gable, co-founder and CEO of AllSides, a nonpartisan firm that rates media bias, commented on the implications of this strategy, saying, “Some of these news organizations might not want to be positioned as promoting one campaign, and this implies that they have a bias towards that campaign, potentially.”
This isn’t the first time mainstream media has shown bias in favor of Kamala Harris since she became the Democratic nominee. Media outlets have also been criticized for deleting her controversial history as a “border czar.”