U.S. surgeon general launches investigation of COVID-19 ‘misinformation,’ demands tech companies hand over data

By Ailan Evans

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy sent a formal request for information Thursday to major tech companies demanding data on “misinformation” related to the COVID-19 vaccine and the virus itself, The New York Times reported.

The request demanded the companies provide data on “exactly how many users saw or may have been exposed to instances of Covid-19 misinformation,” as well as the particular demographics most affected by misleading information, according to the NYT. Murthy also reportedly demanded data on the sources of COVID-19 misinformation, particularly related to discredited treatments for the virus.

“Technology companies now have the opportunity to be open and transparent with the American people about the misinformation on their platforms,” Murthy told the NYT. “This is about protecting the nation’s health.”

The move follows a “misinformation advisory” released by the Office of the Surgeon General in July 2021 alleging that “product features built into technology platforms have contributed to the spread of misinformation.”

“These features help connect and inform people but reward engagement rather than accuracy, allowing emotionally charged misinformation to spread more easily than emotionally neutral content,” Murthy wrote of the “misinformation advisory.”

The Biden administration has repeatedly pushed to crack down on misinformation, particularly related to COVID-19, with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki revealing in July 2021 that the administration was working with Facebook to identify misleading posts.

Companies have until May 2 to comply with the request, according to the NYT.

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6 thoughts on “U.S. surgeon general launches investigation of COVID-19 ‘misinformation,’ demands tech companies hand over data

  1. Exposing government lies and coverups is not misinformation..
    Truth is Hate to those who Hate the Truth. Condoning media to hush all but gov approved messaging
    is right out of the Communist/Nazi manifesto’s. We don’t need propaganda we need full disclosure..

  2. If you have been keeping notes of what the government has been saying through Anthony Fauci and others, from the beginning (masks work, masks don’t work, wear 2 masks, maybe 3 masks, if you are jabbed you don’t have to wear masks, if you are jabbed you still have to wear masks, unvaccinated always have to wear masks and now masks not required for them etc., etc., etc.), you know where the misinformation is coming from.

    That is just one aspect of this. Much more will be coming out, especially about the misuse of the PCR test result data and what it really showed. Surely you remember “they” said the vaccines would prevent you from getting COVID19 and would keep you from transmitting it and as such fit the definition of what a vaccine is, or I should say was, because it turns out the jab does not keep one from getting or giving the disease to others. Misinformation? To keep it from being so labeled, they instead changed the definition of what a vaccine does so it would fit the jab.

    Vaccines are “safe and effective”? Lots of misinformation there. The CDC run Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) will confirm that. FDA requires long-term clinical testing to show if a product is safe and effective and yet they claim these vaccines qualify even though they were rushed through with an emergency procedure that allowed them to avoid the long-term testing.

    Every day the government and their media minions spread different information about every aspect of COVID19 and that by definition means that some of the information is misinformation. When anyone asks a question about any of the real misinformation, they are the one censored and accused of spreading misinformation. Real science can stand up to probing questions and doubts. That is how it works. To falsely develop a narrative and say that it is the science and if you do not agree you are really a dangerous, horrible person who must be dealt with, is the utmost in the dissemination of misinformation and mal-information.

    Surely by now you must be hearing of the harm the jab is causing to the heart, especially more noticeable in young men who did not have such problems pre-jab. The injected spike protein that is supposed to be in the system only for a fleeting time is supposed to remain locally where injected into the muscle while there. Not so. All that was misinformation. Here is some confirmation of that if you need it from the former NIH Director, Francis Collins. https://thefederalist.com/2022/02/25/if-he-wasnt-a-swamp-creature-francis-collins-would-be-banned-from-youtube-for-covid-misinformation/

    The Surgeon General is going to be on the wrong side of history on this issue of misinformation. Who should be investigated and held accountable? He, Fauci, CDC, FDA, and even our own politician experts and doctors, if you follow the Surgeon General’s thinking on suppressing free expression, are the ones that should be investigated.

  3. We should have stopped this danged misinformation thing dead in its tracks when the Federalists were arguing with the Republicans.

    If we didn’t stop it then, we should have stopped the misinformation those opposed to the (consensus) Science! of eugenics were dishing out while we could.

    Then we could have stopped those nasty, ignorant, beer-drinking, smelly, racist, hairy folk when they said there were no WMD in Iraq, but we just stood there slack-jawed.

    Now look where we are. Is it any wonder?

    Thanks be that we now have a Surgeon General willing and able to help us get our minds right.

  4. Yes, the Ministry of Truth will decide for you!

    The biggest disseminaters of misinformation are the FDA and CDC.
    The responsible parties will never be prosecuted, just promoted and retired with lavish benefits.

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