A senior Google executive has been caught on an undercover video appearing to suggest the company is trying to stop 'the next Trump situation' in the 2020 presidential election.

Secret footage released by Project Veritas shows Google's Head of Responsible Innovation, Jen Gennai, saying: 'We all got screwed over in 2016, again it wasn’t just us, it was, the people got screwed over, the news media got screwed over, like, everybody got screwed over so we’ve rapidly been like, what happened there and how do we prevent it from happening again.'

A company insider provided Project Veritas with documents outlining Google's explanation of 'algorithmic unfairness,' which appeared to expose a liberal bent at the online giant.

A document leaked by the alleged insider contained language about addressing 'unjust or prejudicial treatment,' saying that even when search results are factually accurate, 'it may be desirable to consider how we might help society reach a more fair and equitable state, via either product intervention or broader corporate social responsibility efforts.'

Another document discusses enabling 'product teams to make source quality decisions.'

In the covert clip, Gennai can also be heard blasting Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren's push to break up tech giants, saying small companies 'don't have the same resources.'

After the publication of the footage, which has since been removed from YouTube, Gennai said she had used 'imprecise language' during a 'casual chat' and said she had been invited to the meeting at a San Francisco restaurant by people claiming to be from a 'mentoring program for young women of color.'

But the clip, part of Project Veritas' investigation into Silicon Valley, provided fodder to conservatives who have long accused Google of using its search results to shape people's political views.

DailyMail.com reached out to Google seeking authentication of and comment on the documents, as well a response to the video of Gennai, and was referred to Gennai's personal response in a Medium post.

A YouTube spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the video received multiple privacy complaints, and after a review, YouTube removed the video in line with its privacy guidelines.

The spokesperson said: 'We have strong privacy guidelines in place, including the ability to file a complaint if someone feels their privacy has been violated. When complaints are received, we may also provide the uploader a chance to remove or edit private information in their video.'

Secret footage shows Google's Head of Responsible Innovation, Jen Gennai, describing how the tech giant has stepped up to define 'what's fair and equitable' and implement that, at a dinner meeting in San Francisco in May

In the footage she appears to suggest Google is developing algorithms to prevent Donald Trump being reelected in 2020

In the footage, Gennai appears to suggest Google was training its algorithms to prevent a repeat of the 2016 election, though she didn't specifically say exactly what the company was trying to stop in the video posted by Project Veritas.

'We're also training our algorithms, like, if 2016 happened again, would we have, would the outcome be different?' she asked in the video.

Discussing the size Google has grown to, Gennai can be heard saying: 'Elizabeth Warren is saying we should break up Google. And like, I love her but she's very misguided, like that will not make it better it will make it worse, because all these smaller companies who don't have the same resources that we do will be charged with preventing the next Trump situation, it's like a small company cannot do that.'

On Monday, Gennai addressed the video and elaborated on what she meant, writing: 'Project Veritas has edited the video to make it seem that I am a powerful executive who was confirming that Google is working to alter the 2020 election. On both counts, this is absolute, unadulterated nonsense, of course.

'In a casual restaurant setting, I was explaining how Google’s Trust and Safety team (a team I used to work on) is working to help prevent the types of online foreign interference that happened in 2016. Google has been very public about the work that our teams have done since 2016 on this, so it’s hardly a revelation.'

Gennai downplayed her power within the company and quoted Google's CEO Sundar Pichai as saying, 'We do not bias our products to favor any political agenda,' and added of Pichai, 'He’s somewhat more powerful and authoritative than me.'

However, the insider also reportedly told Project Veritas that Google, as a whole, 'is bent on never letting somebody like Donald Trump come to power again.'

Gennai denied the company has a political bent, writing: 'Google has repeatedly been clear that it works to be a trustworthy source of information, without regard to political viewpoint. In fact, Google has no notion of political ideology in its rankings. And everything I have seen backs this up.'

But according to what was said to be a leaked internal Google communication published by Project Veritas on Tuesday, flagging 'far-right content' was at least considered among a private Google group called 'transparency-and-ethics.'

A message excerpted from a larger thread and appearing to be from an employee named Liam Hopkins read: 'Today it is often 1 or 2 steps to nazis, if we understand that PragerU [Prager University], Jordan Peterson, Ben Shapiro et al are nazis using the dog whistles you mention in step 1. I can receive these recommendations regardless of the content of what I'm looking at, and I have recorded thousands of internet users sharing the same experience.

'I don’t think correctly identifying far-right content is beyond our capabilities. But if it is, why not go with Meredith’s suggestion of disabling the suggestion feature? This could be a significant leap in terms of user trust.'

It was not clear from the limited portion of the discussion shown whether this was a proposal to disable the suggestion feature for all content, or specifically content that would be designated 'far-right content.' It also wasn't clear what Google platform the message was referring to.

The insider claims the tech giant uses Machine Learning Fairness to address what it refers to as 'algorithmic unfairness' and steer the political stories people read.

According to a document published by Project Veritas, Google has conceptualized 'algorithmic unfairness' as 'unjust or prejudicial treatment of people that is related to sensitive characteristics such as race, income, sexual orientation, or gender, through algorithmic systems or algorithmic ally aided decision-making.'

In a Medium post on Monday, Gennai addressed the video and elaborated on what she meant, writing: 'Project Veritas has edited the video to make it seem that I am a powerful executive who was confirming that Google is working to alter the 2020 election. On both counts, this is absolute, unadulterated nonsense, of course. Gennai is pictured in a file photo

According to a document published by Project Veritas, Google has conceptualized 'algorithmic unfairness' as 'unjust or prejudicial treatment of people that is related to sensitive characteristics such as race, income, sexual orientation, or gender, through algorithmic systems or algorithmic ally aided decision-making'

It uses the examples of search results that reinforce stereotypes, even if those results may be factually accurate. The document posed a hypothetical situation where a user's search for 'CEOs' returned mostly male results.

'Even if it were a factually accurate representation of the world, it would be algorithmic unfairness because it would reinforce a stereotype about the role of women in leadership positions,' the document read.

The documents goes on to say the accuracy of what Google has deemed 'algorithmic unfairness' may play a role in how a certain search query return is addressed.

'However, factual accuracy may affect product policy's position on whether or how it should be addressed,' it read. 'In some cases, it may be appropriate to take no action if the system accurately affects current reality, while in other cases it may be desirable to consider how we might help society reach a more fair and equitable state, via either product intervention or broader corporate social responsibility efforts.'

The documents goes on to say the accuracy of what Google has deemed 'algorithmic unfairness' may play a role in how a certain search query return is addressed

At one point, Gennai can be heard saying in the video: 'People who voted for the current president do not agree with our definition of fairness.'

Separately, she said: 'The reason we launched our A.I. principles is because people were not putting that line in the sand, that they were not saying what’s fair and what’s equitable so we’re like, well we are a big company, we’re going to say it.'

The insider said: 'They’re [Google] going to redefine a reality based on what they think is fair and based upon what they want, and what and is part of their agenda.'

In another document titled 'Fake News-letter' and published by Project Veritas, dated November 27, 2017, the company appears to define a goal to 'establish a "single point of truth" for [the] definition of "news" across Google products.'

The document defines 'next steps' of equipping 'product teams to make source quality decisions' and testing out 'rater inclusion guidelines with standards to combat misinformation.'

The subject line of the email read, 'efforts to combat spread of (mis/dis)information.'

In another document titled 'Fake News-letter' and published by Project Veritas, dated November 27, 2017, the company appears to define a goal to 'establish a "single point of truth" for [the] definition of "news" across Google products.' The document defines 'next steps' of equipping 'product teams to make source quality decisions' and testing out 'rater inclusion guidelines with standards to combat misinformation'

A third documented published by Project Veritas shows a flow chart that appears to break down the process by which a publisher gets included in Google's 'News Ecosystem'

A third documented published by Project Veritas shows a flow chart that appears to break down how a publisher can have content included in Google's 'News Ecosystem.'

According to the chart, a publisher must first request to register and then get checked out for 'crawlability' (the ability of a search engine to crawl through the entire text content of your Web site) and 'extractability,' (the ability to cut out or copy text and images from a publication).

Then, as part of a 'quality check,' the publisher's site is subject to a manual review of 'process,' 'policies' and 'editorial guideliens (sic),' which seems to imply Google has adopted its own set of editorial guidelines for news content that it will distribute to users.

After passing that kind of review, then content can be included in the 'G-News Corpus.'

Regarding the topics she can be hard commenting on in the clip, Gennai said: 'Despite what the video may have you believe, I’m not involved in any of these products, just like I’m not involved in any of the other topics Project Veritas baited me into discussing (whether it’s antitrust, Congress, or the dozens of other topics that didn’t appear in the video, on which I presumably didn’t say anything that could be twisted to their advantage).'

On Monday, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted the video posted by Project Veritas and wrote: 'This is really scary if you don’t think there’s bias coming from the social media masters watch this. If we don’t act now it will only get worse'

He later wrote:' If @google can do this to influence presidential elections and hurt the President of the United States, just imagine what they can do to you. Big Tech’s stranglehold on free speech and thought has to stop. We have to act before it’s too late'

On Monday, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted the video posted by Project Veritas and wrote, 'This is really scary if you don’t think there’s bias coming from the social media masters watch this. If we don’t act now it will only get worse.'

He later wrote:' If @google can do this to influence presidential elections and hurt the President of the United States, just imagine what they can do to you. Big Tech’s stranglehold on free speech and thought has to stop. We have to act before it’s too late.'

The insider said that YouTube, which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, demotes content from conservative influencers like Dave Rubin and Tim Pool.

In her personal response on Medium, Gennai claimed the Project Veritas journalists shot the footage without her consent.

Gennai denied Google had manipulated search results and said he had received abusive messages since the secret footage was published

According to YouTube, if the content had been uploaded with personally identifiable information removed or blurred, it would not violate the platform's policies.

The site said it offers tools for creators who have content that is subject of a privacy complaint, including object - and face-blurring technology, and that YouTube consistently enforces its privacy guidelines, along with all of its policies, regardless of the creator or the subject matter.

Gennai also said Project Veritas had 'selectively edited and spliced the video to distort my words and the actions of my employer.'

Since it was posted, she said she had received several 'threatening calls, voicemails, text messages and emails'. She has since deleted her Twitter account.

'I was having a casual chat with someone at a restaurant and used some imprecise language. Project Veritas got me. Well done,' she said.

Trump has repeatedly claimed Google 'rigged' its search engine results to show bad news stories about him.

'I think that Google really taking advantage of a lot of people,' he said. 'It's not fair to large portions of the population.'

Invoking Facebook and Twitter, he said, 'We have literally thousands and thousands of complaints coming in. And you just can't do that.'

Google has categorically denied that politics play any role in the complex algorithms that determine what users are shown when they search a term, though an undated chart published by Project Veritas and reportedly from internal Google documents seems to suggest otherwise.

Google has categorically denied that politics play any role in the complex algorithms that determine what users are shown when they search a term, though an undated chart published by Project Veritas and reportedly from internal Google documents seems to suggest otherwise

The chart addresses how 'unconscious bias gets reinforced in the training data' used as the basis for algorithms.

In a circular relationship, the chart shows how training data is first collected and classified by humans, seemingly subject to all of our unconscious biases, and are then used to program algorithms. In the third step, the chart says 'media are filtered, ranked, aggregated, or generated.'

As a result, 'people (like us) are programmed,' according to the chart.

At the bottom of the chart, text reads, 'unconscious bias affects the way we collect and classify data, design and write code.'

In a hearing on Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee examined how technology companies use algorithms and its influence on the public, with Director of Google User Experience Maggie Stanphill present.

US Senator Ted Cruz asked Stanphill at the hearing, 'Does Google consider itself a neutral public forum?' Stanphill replied: 'Yes, it does.'

Cruz then brought up the Project Veritas report released on Monday, saying, 'I think these documents raise very serious questions about political bias at the company.' He questioned if Stanphill was aware of the report and if she had seen it in its entirety.

Stanphill said she had heard about it, but had not seen it yet for herself. Cruz then asked her if she felt it was Google's job to 'prevent the next Trump situation,' to which she replied, 'I don't agree with that. No sir.'

Cruz then asked in reference to what the insider told Project Veritas: 'Do you think it's Google’s job to make sure quote "somebody like Donald Trump never comes to power again?'

To that, Stanphill replied: 'No sir, I don’t think that is Google’s job and we build for everyone, including every single religious belief, every single demographic, every single region, and certainly every single political affiliation.'

Previously, Google has acknowledged that a user's search history will affect the search results that person is presented with on the site, so it is possible that any given user's viewing habits will determine which news outlets they see information from in the future.

The exact workings of Google's search query results algorithm remain a closely guarded corporate secret.

US Representative for Texas Louie Gohmert, a Republican, said the video of Gennai 'shows Google’s biases are now a threat to a free and fair election,' in a statement that reposted the Project Veritas story.

'[T]hey hide behind the immunity given by Congress years ago when they were supposed to be a simple "town square" where everyone’s voice could be heard without biased results,' Gohmert said.

He was referring to Google's immunity from liability for content posted by others under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. This immunity holds even if Google and other platforms like it moderate some content or sets specific standards, but it expressly prevents them from being required to do so.

Gohmert continued: 'In fact, Google references a significant role they see themselves fulfilling in the 2020 elections. This discovery should set off alarm bells throughout the country. It is no secret that Google has a political agenda. Multiple brave tech insiders have stepped forward and exposed Google’s censorship of content and specialized algorithms.

'This media giant’s "social justice narrative" should distress all Americans who value a free and open society. Google should not be deciding whether content is important or trivial and they most assuredly should not be meddling in our election process. They need their immunity stripped and to be properly pursued by class action lawsuits by those they have knowingly harmed.'

Warren, among the growing field of Democratic candidates in the race to run for President in 2020, has made the breakup of tech giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook one of her flagship policies.

Warren described her plans for tech companies in an essay published on Medium that made the case for promoting competition.

'Today's big tech companies have too much power — too much power over our economy, our society, and our democracy,' she wrote. 'They've bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field against everyone else. And in the process, they have hurt small businesses and stifled innovation.'