Content removal: the government-Google partnership

Abstract

Purpose This study seeks to understand the relationship between a country's political system and its content removal request to Google. It also investigates the trends in content removal requests to Google over 11 years (2011–2021). Design The study uses secondary data derived from 2020 Google Transparency Report and Freedom House Report with information from 89 countries and three Google products – YouTube, Web search, and Blogger. Findings Countries with lower freedom scores (categorized as authoritarian) showed overall higher content removal requests as well as higher requests using reasons like national security and government criticism. Countries with higher freedom scores (categorized as libertarian) requested for more content removal using defamation. Results also show an increase in overall content removal overtime from 2011 to 2021. Practical Implications This study adds empirical evidence to the discourse on freedom of speech across countries. It also demonstrates the viability of online secondary data sources for empirical research purposes. It has implications for understanding global content moderation and its relationship with freedom of expression. Social Implications The study demonstrates the need to address the global decline in democracy across countries (both authoritarian and libertarian countries). Originality Value The study is one of the first to use Google’s Transparency report for post-publication censorship/ content moderation analysis.