TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A growing series of copyright complaints has targeted news coverage involving Republican congressional candidate Michael Carbonara, raising questions about who is attempting to remove critical reporting from Google search results just days before Florida’s Aug. 18 primary.
The latest development came Monday when The Floridian reported receiving a notification from Google alleging that material published by the outlet infringed another party’s copyright.
The notice follows earlier complaints involving stories published by WLRN Public Media, Florida Politics and WCMU Public Radio concerning Carbonara, a Republican candidate for Congress.
It remains unclear who is responsible for submitting the complaints, and there is no publicly established evidence showing that Carbonara personally filed or authorized them.
WLRN Documents Pattern of Copyright Complaints
WLRN reported Aug. 5 that a series of copyright complaints had been submitted to Google seeking the removal of articles concerning Carbonara’s connections to the data-center industry and other coverage of the candidate.
According to WLRN’s investigation, several complaints purported to come from companies with little or no identifiable online presence and alleged that legitimate news articles had copied material belonging to other organizations.
One complaint targeted a July 15 WLRN investigation examining Carbonara’s involvement with a Michigan data center that is the subject of litigation over allegations of excessive noise near an elementary school.
WLRN reported that two days after the story was published, an entity identifying itself as Reynolds Media Group in the United Kingdom filed a copyright complaint alleging that WLRN had taken material from the Times of India.
WLRN said it could find no online information establishing the existence of Reynolds Media Group and noted that the Times of India is owned by The Times Group.
Google initially removed the WLRN article from search results, according to the outlet.
Other complaints subsequently targeted reporting by WCMU Public Radio and Florida Politics.
A July 31 complaint attributed to an entity called Davenport Enterprises sought removal of a WCMU story about Carbonara’s data-center connections, according to WLRN.
Another complaint filed Aug. 1 under the name Pedrick Enterprises targeted a Florida Politics article examining Carbonara’s position on data centers.
WLRN reported that the complaint alleged Florida Politics had copied WLRN’s reporting. WLRN said the allegation was false and that it had not authorized anyone to file the complaint on its behalf.
Google Restores Stories as More Complaints Surface
After WLRN contacted Google about the pattern, several affected articles returned to search results.
But additional complaints followed.
WLRN reported that additional copyright notices were submitted Aug. 4 involving its reporting and Florida Politics coverage, again affecting the visibility of articles concerning Carbonara in Google search.
Google told WLRN that its Digital Millennium Copyright Act process is designed to help legitimate copyright owners while also protecting free expression. Publishers affected by erroneous removals can submit counter-notices challenging the claims.
The company told WLRN it reviewed the complaints brought to its attention and took appropriate action.
Corey Silverstein, a Michigan attorney who handles First Amendment and copyright matters, told WLRN that the apparent misuse of copyright procedures was particularly concerning during an election.
“This is absolute censorship,” Silverstein told the outlet.
WLRN also reported that it asked Carbonara’s campaign whether it knew about the takedown requests or had financed anyone to submit them but did not receive a response.
The Floridian Receives Copyright Notice
The controversy expanded Monday when The Floridian reported that it had received its own Google notification alleging copyright infringement.
The notification followed a story the outlet published Friday examining campaign messaging describing Carbonara as the “only endorsed MAGA candidate” in the Republican congressional primary.
Carbonara has received an endorsement from Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. The Floridian reported, however, that the White House denied that President Donald Trump had endorsed Carbonara.
The Floridian said it received Google’s copyright notification Monday morning.
The outlet connected the notice to the broader pattern of complaints previously documented by WLRN involving reporting about Carbonara.
The identity of the person or organization responsible for the latest complaint has not been independently established.
Questions Remain Over Who Is Behind the Complaints
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act provides a process allowing copyright owners to request that online services remove or restrict access to material they contend infringes their copyrights.
That system can also be abused through false or misleading claims.
WLRN found that several entities named in the complaints involving Carbonara coverage had little identifiable digital presence. Some of the complaints also alleged that established news organizations had copied material from unrelated publications or websites.
The timing adds another dimension to the controversy as Florida voters cast ballots ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.
Carbonara is competing for the Republican nomination for Congress, with the primary entering its final days.
Recent polling has shown a competitive race with a significant portion of Republican voters still undecided.
The central unanswered question surrounding the copyright complaints remains who is submitting them and why multiple pieces of reporting involving the same congressional candidate have been targeted.
Neither WLRN nor The Floridian has publicly established that Carbonara or his campaign submitted the complaints.
The Florida Pundit is seeking comment from the Carbonara campaign regarding whether Carbonara, his campaign or anyone acting on their behalf submitted, authorized, financed or coordinated copyright complaints involving news coverage of the candidate.
This story will be updated if a response is received.
Sources
WRLN
