Google Search Engine Mechanisms Used in Information Warfare

Abstract

The article discusses modern methods and forms of information confrontation and information impact through information technology. The results of research on manipulating information by the search engine Google are presented. The significance and role of the USSR in the Second World War were considered as an information field. For this, factual material is used, a content analysis of articles by various researchers, search results of two different search engines is carried out. The materials of Russian and foreign representatives in relation to Google on cases of manipulation of algorithms for ranking the issued information have been investigated. A comparative analysis of the search results of two search engines in two languages is carried out. According to the conducted content analysis of sources and the criteria proposed by the author, the ranking of search results was carried out. Along with the positive goals pursued by modifications of search algorithms, additional tools have been identified that can be used as an informational influence and the actual results of manipulating information in the special elements of the Google search engine are presented. In continuation of the study, the importance of information resources occupying leading positions in the search results for the formation of users' worldview is indicated, and in this connection the resource wikipedia.org was analyzed. The author identifies the methods of manipulation used (silence and pressure positions) as the main ones in describing the role of the USSR in the Second World War. In the course of the study, materials are presented that indicate the possibility of using modern search information systems not only for obtaining commercial profit, but also within the framework of information warfare.