US Surgeon General asking Facebook to reign in misinformation on vaccines

[Under One King]

What makes you say that?

For the simple reason that they are trying to silence those who have particular beliefs.

 

[Under One King]

I understood it well enough to write a response that was ignored in favor of this post.

This is a textbook example of the logical fallacy called poisoning the well. In addition to being a logical fallacy, it is also a personal attack - it make accusations about the poster rather than the content of what is posted. That sort of approach is often used when a post can't be supported by facts or logical argument, so the idea is to try and pretend that everyone and everything other than that failing of the post is at fault.

Well alright, if you really can't understand it, here goes: the government is wanting a social media platform to censor certain beliefs that people have which they are trying to share. That social media platform has the right to do so of course, but the government does not have the right to censor such things or even suggest that they should be. Does it not seem that if the government want to censor certain beliefs and attacks those who have those beliefs that there is a certain belief pattern that they want people to have and any others should not be allowed?
Yet they have no right to do so, which is what I was saying.

 

[variant]

Well alright, if you really can't understand it, here goes: the government is wanting a social media platform to censor certain beliefs that people have which they are trying to share. That social media platform has the right to do so of course, but the government does not have the right to censor such things or even suggest that they should be. Does it not seem that if the government want to censor certain beliefs and attacks those who have those beliefs that there is a certain belief pattern that they want people to have and any others should not be allowed?
Yet they have no right to do so, which is what I was saying.

Flagging misinformation as misinformation about a current public health crisis is the kind of censorship that I can get behind. Especially if we can get the government to do it out in the open and cite their sources.

Facebook doesn't have to be a vehicle for misinformation if it doesn't want to be and the government has every right to ASK them to do it.

 

[NxNW]

Does it not seem that if the government want to censor certain beliefs and attacks those who have those beliefs that there is a certain belief pattern that they want people to have and any others should not be allowed?

The government has always promoted certain ideas and discouraged others. How is this any different?

 

[Under One King]

Flagging misinformation as misinformation is the kind of censorship that I can get behind. Especially if we can get the government to do it out in the open and cite their sources.

Facebook doesn't have to be a vehicle for misinformation if it doesn't want to be and the government has every right to ASK them to do it.

The government does not have that right. When did we lose the right to free speech?

 

[NxNW]

The government does not have that right. When did we lose the right to free speech?

You didn't.

 

[Under One King]

The government has always promoted certain ideas and discouraged others. How is this any different?

This is going beyond promoting or discouraging. Free speech seems to just be going right out the window in favor of the government telling us what is right and what is wrong

 

[Under One King]

You didn't.

Your right I didn't. It's a right that can't be taken away. But why are they trying to?

 

[variant]

The government does not have that right. When did we lose the right to free speech?

You never had the right to free speech on Facebook.

And even under the first amendment protections you do have, there have always been exceptions for endangering the public welfare.

 

[NxNW]

Free speech seems to just be going right out the window in favor of the government telling us what is right and what is wrong

The government has regulated our society for over two centuries.

 

[wing2000]

This is going beyond promoting or discouraging.

Which part?


"Today, I issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory on the dangers of health misinformation. Surgeon General Advisories are reserved for urgent public health threats. And while those threats have often been related to what we eat, drink, and smoke, today we live in a world where misinformation poses an imminent and insidious threat to our nation’s health.

Health misinformation is false, inaccurate, or misleading information about health, according to the best evidence at the time. And while it often appears innocuous on social media apps and retail sites or search engines, the truth is that misinformation takes away our freedom to make informed decisions about our health and the health of our loved ones.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health misinformation has led people to resist wearing masks in high-risk settings. It’s led them to turn down proven treatments and to choose not to get vaccinated. This has led to avoidable illnesses and death. Simply put, health [mis]information has cost us lives.

Now, health misinformation didn’t start with COVID-19. What’s different now though is the speed and scale at which health misinformation is spreading. Modern technology companies have enabled misinformation to poison our information environment with little accountability to their users. They’ve allowed people who intentionally spread misinformation — what we call “disinformation” — to have extraordinary reach.

They’ve designed product features, such as “Like” buttons, that reward us for sharing emotionally-charged content, not accurate content. And their algorithms tend to give us more of what we click on, pulling us deeper and deeper into a well of misinformation.

Now, we need an all-of-society approach to fight misinformation. And that’s why this advisory that I issued today has recommendations for everyone.

First, we include recommendations for individuals and families. We ask people to raise the bar for sharing health information by checking sources before they share, to ensure that information is backed by credible, scientific sources. As we say in the advisory, “If you’re not sure, don’t share.”

Second, we’re asking health organizations to proactively address misinformation with their patients. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics is announcing an educational campaign to help parents navigate online health information. I’m encouraged to see this commitment. And, again, this is just the beginning.

Third, we’re asking educational institutions to help improve health information literacy.

We’re asking researchers and foundations as well to help us learn more about how health [mis]information spreads and how to stop it.

Today, the Rockefeller Foundation is announcing a $13.5 million commitment to counter health misinformation. The Digital Public Library of America is announcing that they will convene a set of librarians, scholars, journalists, and civic leaders to confront health misinformation together.

Fourth, we’re saying we expect more from our technology companies. We’re asking them to operate with greater transparency and accountability. We’re asking them to monitor misinformation more closely. We’re asking them to consistently take action against misinformation super-spreaders on their platforms.


Fifth, we’re also asking news organizations to proactively address the public’s questions without inadvertently giving a platform to health misinformation that can harm their audiences.

And sixth, we know that government can play an important role too by investing in research, by bringing individuals and organizations together to address misinformation, and by supporting groups that are working on this issue.

----

We must confront misinformation as a nation. Every one of us has the power and the responsibility to make a difference in this fight. Lives are depending on it.

You can read the full advisory at SurgeonGeneral.gov/HealthMisinformation."

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, July 15, 2021 | The White House

 

[Subduction Zone]

For the simple reason that they are trying to silence those who have particular beliefs.

That is the claim. What is the evidence?

 

[Subduction Zone]

It sounds like you're saying that Jen Psaki is pretending to the press secretary for a Republican. Maybe she needs a rebuke from her boss to remind her she works for a democrat and shouldn't be calling for such actions.

Are you trying to shoot yourself in the foot? Where is your evidence that Jen Psaki has done this? Where has she used undue government pressure on social media or even suggested it?

Evidence or it did not happen.

 

[Aldebaran]

Are you trying to shoot yourself in the foot? Where is your evidence that Jen Psaki has done this? Where has she used undue government pressure on social media or even suggested it?

Evidence or it did not happen.

Evidence that Jen Psaki has done.....what? You're asking me to defend an imaginary statement.

 

[NxNW]

Your right I didn't. It's a right that can't be taken away. But why are they trying to?

They're not.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Evidence that Jen Psaki has done.....what? You're asking me to defend an imaginary statement.

As long as you admit that your statement was imaginary we are all good.

 

[Aldebaran]

As long as you admit that your statement was imaginary we are all good.

Then why did you come up with something I didn't say, and then expect me to prove it?

 

[Subduction Zone]

Then why did you come up with something I didn't say, and then expect me to prove it?

Actually you did say it. You could follow the quotes back or I could quote it for you.

 

[KCfromNC]

For the simple reason that they are trying to silence those who have particular beliefs.

People aren't being targeted for their beliefs.

 

[98cwitr]

How so? They are merely asking Facebook to do the right thing. They are not ordering them to do so.

And Facebook has always censored harmful speech. If I posted to friends and relatives asking them to physically attack my next door neighbor or advocated that they vandalize his property with hate speech you can bet that would be "censored" too. In fact we have them same sort of censorship here. If I openly posted blasphemy I would be in big trouble.

When we join social media we have to agree to the rules of those sites. That is true here, it is true for Facebook. Why are people complaining?

Define and frame the bare minimum application of "harmful speech" please.

The government asking anyone to control speech on a public platform is hypocritical to their oaths to the Constitution.