Google is “punishing Republicans” who speak out against Big Tech, according to the conservative Media Research Center, reported CNN.
MRC Free Speech America has conducted a series of studies related to Google’s treatment of Republicans ahead of the critical midterm elections. Despite Google’s vehement denials of any wrongdoing, the conservative media watchdog believes Google “does change its algorithm to benefit certain political candidates,” and is focused on the Senate because its “search bias” didn’t carry over to House races where the GOP is already favored.
Related: Bozell Calls For Antitrust Action Against Big Tech For “Canceling Conservatives”
The latest study focused on 10 key races in the House and Senate involving sitting lawmakers who have spoken out against Big Tech. MRC said its findings indicated Google “severely buried or did not even display several Republicans’ campaign websites” if they have acted aggressively toward Big Tech.
“In fact, the search giant completely hid six of 10 Republicans’ campaign websites from the first page of results,” MRC associate editor Brian Bradley wrote.
“Google did not show Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s campaign website on its front page of search results but showed his Democrat challenger Charles Booker’s campaign website as the first result. Paul, who is up for re-election, has been a frequent critic of Big Tech,” Bradley added. “Google buried [Colorado] Rep. Ken Buck’s campaign website as the 15th result out of 20 on the first page, while elevating his challenger Democrat Ike McCorkle’s campaign website to the No. 3 spot in the search results. Buck has introduced legislation that would strengthen antitrust actions brought against industries including Big Tech.”
