In a YouTube video, a voice in English announces that China has researched and developed its own ultra-thin 1-nanometer chip – a staggering claim given that the chip isn’t expected in commercial devices for another decade.

“Recent news from China has sent ripples of excitement and astonishment across the globe,” gushes the voice-over on the China Charged YouTube channel. “This revolutionary breakthrough is more than a technological marvel; it is a game-changer that will redefine the global tech landscape.”

“Prepare to have your mind blown,” says another video, this time on the channel Unbelievable Projects. “Welcome to today’s video, in which we’ll discover why America remains behind China in infrastructure development.”

These voices and their “good news” about China are evidence that the Chinese Communist Party and its overseas proxies are using artificial intelligence to flood YouTube with propaganda videos, according to a new report that describes a “coordinated inauthentic influence campaign” on the platform.

  • jjjalljs@ttrpg.network
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    30
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Do people really get their news and information from random YouTube channels?

    YouTube is not a reliable source!

    • csm10495@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      1 year ago

      My father in law watches this crap all the time. Also every war propaganda video.

      … if not that, Thai boxing or bear hunting. Ya never know what he’ll be watching as long as it’s one of those. Oh unless it’s Friday night, then he’s watching SmackDown.

    • doctorcrimson@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      TBF, the FriendlyJordies are a reliable news source, but that’s more of an exception to the rule.

      • Bazoogle@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        17
        ·
        1 year ago

        The problem isn’t getting your new from YouTube. But rather random YouTube channels. It’s like saying “Do people really get their news from random news sites”

        • robotopera@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          1 year ago

          Yeah it seems a lot of people do. Especially if it’s linked through social media, I would guess a non trivial amount of people won’t fact check it or check the source.

    • heyfrancis@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      Yep i know a lot of people at least in my country. If not YT, then they get it from FB

    • assassin_aragorn@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I automatically dismiss any argument that uses a YouTube video as evidence. If it’s legit, there’s going to be text that goes with it.