Some Kamala Harris ads have sparked concerns by appearing to mislead viewers into thinking major news outlets are endorsing her presidential campaign. The ads, which have surfaced in Google search results, link to legitimate news stories but feature pro-Harris messages crafted by her campaign. These messages are presented in a way that mimics news organizations’ headlines, potentially causing viewers confusion.
Outlets like The Associated Press and The Guardian were unaware of their articles being used this way, with both expressing concern over the practice. Media ethics experts, like Jane Kirtley from the University of Minnesota, criticized the tactic as deceptive, suggesting it could mislead the public into believing the ads represent unbiased news coverage rather than paid political content.
Google defended the ads as clearly labeled and legally permissible, noting that Democratic and Republican campaigns have used similar tactics. However, the controversy highlights the ongoing tension between news organizations and political campaigns over the unauthorized use of journalistic content in political advertising. Despite the backlash, the Harris campaign has no plans to discontinue the ads.
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