Washington, Jul 17 (AP): President Joe Biden has mentioned that social media corporations are “killing folks” by failing to police misinformation on their platforms about COVID-19 vaccines.
Biden’s feedback got here a day after US Surgeon Normal Vivek Murthy declared misinformation in regards to the vaccines a menace to public well being, and as US officers suggested that deaths and critical sickness from the virus are virtually fully preventable due to the vaccines.
Biden, requested if he had a message for platforms like Fb the place false or deceptive details about the coronavirus vaccines has unfold, instructed reporters, “They’re killing folks.” “The one pandemic we have now is among the many unvaccinated,” he mentioned.
Talking on Thursday, Murthy mentioned misinformation about COVID-19, deemed an “infodemic” by the World Well being Group, was lethal.
“Misinformation poses an imminent and insidious menace to our nation’s well being,” Murthy mentioned throughout remarks on the White Home. “We should confront misinformation as a nation. Lives are relying on it.” Given the function the web performs in spreading well being misinformation, Murthy mentioned expertise corporations and social media platforms should make significant adjustments to their merchandise and software program to scale back the unfold of false data whereas rising entry to authoritative, fact-based sources.
Too typically, he mentioned, the platforms are inbuilt ways in which encourage, not counter, the unfold of misinformation.
“We’re asking them to step up,” Murthy mentioned. “We will not wait longer for them to take aggressive motion.” Fb spokesperson Dani Lever responded: “We is not going to be distracted by accusations which are not supported by details. The very fact is that greater than 2 billion folks have seen authoritative details about COVID-19 and vaccines on Fb, which is greater than some other place on the web.” “Greater than 3.3 million People have additionally used our vaccine finder device to search out out the place and the way to get a vaccine. The details present that Fb helps save lives. Interval,” Lever mentioned.
Twitter posted on its platform, “Because the COVID-19 pandemic evolves across the world, we’ll proceed to do our half to raise authoritative well being data.” (AP) RHL
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