Google is playing a dangerous game in demonetizing news and opinion websites based on editorial content or comments made on article pages, the editorial board of the New York Post wrote Tuesday.
“For a purely online publication, it’s a death threat,” the New York Post wrote in reaction to news that Google had at least considered disallowing two right-wing news websites from earning advertising revenue made through the global search engine.
On Tuesday, NBC News reported that a left-wing media watchdog organization based in England that tracks hate speech had raised alarms over an article on the conservative website the Federalist.
“This is particularly egregious because both ‘violators’ were brought to Google’s attention by an NBC reporter pushing claims from left-wing nonprofits — a reporter who couldn’t get her own facts right,” the New York Post said in its editorial.
In the article, the author said, “The Federalist published an article claiming the media had been lying about looting and violence during the protests, which were both included in the research sent to Google.”
The NBC News report specifically flagged comments readers made on the article. Separately, comments left on the far-right website Zero Hedge were also reported to Google by an outfit NBC News calls its “News Verification Unit.”
Citing its policies that “prohibit derogatory content that promotes hatred, intolerance, violence or discrimination based on race from monetizing,” a Google spokesperson initially told NBC News it had demonetized the Federalist.
The tech giant later walked that statement back, saying it never pulled the website’s ability to make revenue off advertising but rather gave the company three days to rectify the situation. The Federalist has temporarily done away with its comments section.
Several prominent pundits in conservative media rushed to the website’s defense and accused Google of attempting to silence right-leaning viewpoints or ideas.
Sen. Josh Hawley, a frequent critic of big tech, announced he is planning to introduce legislation that would punish tech companies for censorship.
The New York Post said if Google ends up facing further congressional scrutiny, it will be the company’s own doing.
“If Google doesn’t rethink this policy,” the board wrote. “It’s begging for the feds to crack down.”
