Google won’t show @dbongino’s #Rumble show in searches, despite it being one of the biggest in the US.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Google’s search algorithms aren’t just about providing the most relevant results but are instead heavily skewed by political bias. A glaring example? The deliberate omission of Rumble when searching for “Dan Bongino” or “Dan Bongino Show.” This isn’t just an oversight; it’s a strategic move by Google, a company that’s supposed to be the epitome of neutral information curation.
Dan Bongino’s show on Rumble isn’t just any podcast; it’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in terms of live-streamed content in the U.S. Yet, Google, a platform that prides itself on delivering what users want, somehow fails to list Rumble in these searches unless paid for visibility. This raises serious questions about Google’s commitment to fairness and neutrality in information distribution.
The fact that Rumble, the exclusive platform for Bongino’s show, doesn’t naturally appear in search results for such a high-profile figure suggests manipulation. Why? Because Google has historically shown favoritism towards content that aligns with a particular political narrative, often sidelining conservative voices. This isn’t about the quality or relevance of content; it’s about controlling the narrative.
AllSides.com: Google News’ Bias Moved Further Left: 2022 and 2023 Compared
The latest AllSides Google News bias analysis found 63% of articles that appeared on the news aggregator over a 2-week period were from media outlets on the left. This is a larger share than in 2022, when 61% of articles on Google News were from liberal outlets. In 2023, 6% of articles were from sources on the right; in 2022, just 3%.
In the days leading up to the 2022 midterm elections, AllSides found the search term “election” returned no Google News results from Center-, Lean Right- or Right-rated media outlets.
Google’s actions here aren’t just about search engine optimization; they’re about shaping public discourse by deciding what information is accessible and what remains hidden. This manipulation not only undermines the democratic process by skewing information availability but also erodes trust in the very platforms we rely on for knowledge.
It’s time for a serious conversation about how Google’s algorithms are being used not just to organize the world’s information but to filter it through a political lens, potentially influencing elections, public opinion, and the very fabric of free speech. The implications are profound: if a search engine, which many consider a gateway to the truth, can so easily manipulate what we see, how can we trust any information we find?
New York Post: How Google manipulates search to favor liberals and tip elections
But there is no doubt Google’s culture is monomaniacally liberal and that Google executives have shown a willingness to use the power of their algorithms to intervene in elections to change voters’ minds on a massive scale.
There is no reason to think it won’t happen again in 2024.
This isn’t just about Bongino or Rumble; it’s about the principle of equal access to information. When platforms like Google start curating content based on political leanings rather than relevance or popularity, they’re not just tweaking algorithms; they’re playing gatekeeper to information, deciding what qualifies as “truth” or “notable” in the public eye.
For Google to claim impartiality while such disparities are evident in their search results is disingenuous at best and manipulative at worst. It’s a call to action for regulators, tech watchdogs, and consumers to demand transparency and fairness in search algorithms. We must ensure that the platforms we trust to inform us are not just mirrors reflecting the biases of Silicon Valley but true windows into the world’s collective knowledge.
This isn’t just about politics; it’s about the integrity of information in the digital age. If Google can’t commit to showing all sides of the story, especially when dealing with content as widely consumed as Bongino’s, then we’re not just dealing with a search engine flaw. We’re witnessing an active manipulation of the information ecosystem, which could have far-reaching consequences for democracy, free speech, and the very notion of truth in the public domain.