Facebook Fails to Share COVID-19 Misinformation with Washington
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Employees at Facebook are fighting a lost battle to counteract misinformation, with the risk that any post might be disclosed at any time.
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White House called on Facebook to share COVID-19 misinformation publicly.
A Facebook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, reveals that researchers had extensive knowledge that coronavirus and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine were available on the company's apps, but the company didn't fight it or share the information with the White House.
Documents presented by Haugen reveal how multiple studies were conducted, producing various numbers detailing the types of users who were most likely to share fake news.
Lawmakers, academics, and the White House called on Facebook to share such information publicly.
The company's employees were aware that misinformation about the coronavirus was taking over parts of social media platforms creating 'echo-chamber-like effects' ultimately reinforcing hesitancy regarding the vaccine.
The documents reveal that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook carefully investigated how its platforms spread misinformation about life-saving vaccines. They also reveal rank-and-file employees regularly suggested solutions for countering anti-vaccine content on the site.
Facebook's internal discussions were revealed in disclosures made to the Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by Haugen's legal counsel.
Some researchers explained how some posts by professional organizations such as the World Health Organization were flooded by anti-vaccine comments essentially hijacking the pro-vaccine message and further spreading falsehoods.
The major issue is that Facebook was aware but chose not to share the information with the White House, however social media platforms are acutely aware that vaccine misinformation was a serious issue on the internet.
