Big Brother News Watch
WH Sees YouTube, Facebook as ‘Judge, Jury & Executioner’ on Vaccine Misinformation + More
White House Sees YouTube, Facebook as ‘Judge, Jury & Executioner’ on Vaccine Misinformation
The White House has YouTube, not just Facebook, on its list of social media platforms officials say are responsible for an alarming spread of misinformation about COVID vaccines and are not doing enough to stop it, sources familiar with the administration’s thinking said.
The criticism comes just a week after President Joe Biden called Facebook and other social media companies “killers” for failing to slow the spread of misinformation about vaccines. He has since softened his tone.
Bill Maher Slams Google, Facebook for Censoring Content That Doesn’t Align With Government-Sanctioned COVID Narrative
Comedian Bill Maher said in a video on “Real Time” it’s “outrageous” social media platforms are censoring content on ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug proven effective to treat COVID.
Maher also criticized social media censorship of content suggesting the SARS-CoV2 virus escape from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China.
Maher referenced comments by Google’s head of health division, David Feinberg, who told a Wall Street Journal reporter in June that Google doesn’t autofill searches for “coronavirus lab leak” because it doesn’t want to lead “people down pathways” to information that’s not “authoritative.”
This Week’s CHD ‘Community Corner’: ‘Navigating University Vaccine Mandates’
Aimee Villella McBride and Stephanie Locricchio reported:
This week’s episode of “Community Corner” featured an interview with Attorney Ray Flores II, a health freedom and civil rights attorney.
College students across the nation are facing challenging decisions as they approach the first day of school in a few short weeks. Nearly 500 universities and colleges in the U.S. are now mandating the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some universities and colleges are accepting religious or medical exemptions, but for those students who receive exemptions, schools are imposing punitive, discriminatory policies such as weekly testing, social distancing and mask requirements.
Senators Target Section 230 to Fight COVID Vaccine Misinformation
As coronavirus cases rise in unvaccinated populations, Democratic senators are introducing a new bill Thursday that would strip away Facebook and other social media platforms’ Section 230 liability shield if they amplify harmful public health misinformation.
The Health Misinformation Act, introduced by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) Thursday, would create a carveout in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act opening social media platforms like Facebook up to lawsuits for hosting some dangerous health misinformation. The bill directs the Health and Human Services secretary to issue guidelines on what should be classified as “health misinformation.”
Coronavirus Updates: Some of the U.S.’s Largest School Districts Reinstate Masks for Fall
Mask mandates are being reinstated in some states, largely because of the Delta variant. The CDC director is calling it one of the most infectious respiratory diseases scientists have ever seen.
Some of the biggest school districts are now making masks mandatory this upcoming school year. Atlanta, Chicago, and Boston all announced students and staff will be required to wear face coverings regardless of vaccination status.
Instagram Users Worry a New Sensitivity Filter Is Censoring Their Work
Instagram users around the platform share one central concern right now: that the app’s new sensitive content filter is blocking their posts. In posts on both the feed and in Stories, account holders are warning their followers that the setting is limiting their reach and that their followers should disable the filter to ensure their posts get through.
“Over the past 24 hours, I’ve had many conversations with artists and other creators who are incredibly frustrated by having their work hidden,” Phillip Miner, an artist and the creator of queer hobby magazine Natural Pursuits, wrote in a post. “Conversely, people are frustrated that they can’t find the content they want to see.”
Boston College Helped Football Player Who Refused to Get COVID Vaccine to Transfer
Hafley did not name the player who transferred. The school is mandating that its student population get vaccinated before showing up for the fall semester or participating in athletics.
“I never gave my opinion about it. I just said, ‘This is the school rule,’ ” Hafley said, according to ESPN.com. “If you don’t want to get it, I’ll support you. We had one player who didn’t want to get it, and we helped find him a new home.”
6 NC Hospital Systems to Require COVID Vaccines for Employees
Six major North Carolina hospital groups announced Thursday that all employees must get the COVID-19 vaccine, including the three hospital systems in the Triad-Cone Health, Novant Health and Wake Forest Baptist Health.
Atrium Health, Duke Health and UNC Health hospitals will also require employees to be immunized against COVID-19, according to a release from the North Carolina Healthcare Association.
Union Hospital Workers Protest NewYork-Presbyterian’s Vaccine Mandate
Hospital workers with 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) rallied Thursday against NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s vaccination mandate.
Pharmacist John Simonian joined hundreds of members of his union protesting outside the hospital.
“Force is not the answer, and mandate forcing people at the barrel of a gun is not right,” Simonian said. Simonian has been a pharmacist with the hospital for 35 years. He said the hospital’s mandate that all employees get vaccinated is a slippery slope.
Gavin Newsom Sued Over School Mask Mandate as COVID Spikes in California
Two parents’ groups are suing Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsomover over a mask mandate in public schools. Their lawsuit comes as the state experiences a spike in new COVID-19 infections.
The groups—Let Them Breathe and Reopen California Schools—have filed a lawsuit against Newsom and the state’s top health officials. The lawsuit says that the statewide mandate requiring schoolchildren to wear masks regardless of their vaccination status will harm the “mental and physical health” of children, especially after a year of isolation and distance learning.
‘Don’t Want to Get Vaccinated, Leave’ — Hedge Fund Founder Mandates COVID Shots in His Office
Anthony Scaramucci, founder and co-managing partner of SkyBridge, told CNBC on Friday he has mandated COVID shots at his hedge fund’s office.
He also called on all eligible Americans to go out and get vaccinated.
“We’re a private company. If somebody wants to fight me over the vaccine mandate, that’s fine. Let’s take it to the court,” Scaramucci said on “Squawk Box,” while imploring other firms to follow suit.
YouTube Deletes Family Research Council Video + More
Family Research Council Decries YouTube Censorship of Discussion on Whether Schools Should Vaccinate Children Without Parental Knowledge or Consent
Family Research Council reported:
Big tech giant YouTube has removed a video interview from a YouTube channel which features interviews conducted by Tony Perkins, who serves as president of Family Research Council and is host of Washington Watch, a program that broadcasts on nearly 800 Christian radio stations as well as Christian TV. YouTube removed the video citing alleged “medical misinformation,” likely related to mention of the COVID-19 vaccines.
The interview in question was with Mary Holland, which originally aired on July 16. Three days later, on July 19, YouTube removed the interview from its platform. FRC promptly appealed the YouTube decision the same day. The appeal was rejected by the big tech giant the next day, on July 20.
Journalist Alex Berenson Tells The Defender: ‘They Are Censoring Dissenting Views and That Is Wrong’
Alex Berenson thinks social media companies have gone too far in censoring opposing views.
In an interview with The Defender, Berenson shared how he was banned from Twitter for 12 hours because he linked to a thread containing data that challenged the mainstream’s narrative that COVID vaccines are effective.
The former New York Times reporter and author of 12 novels and two nonfiction books — and currently author of the Substack publication “Unreported Truths” — said Twitter suddenly flagged several of his posts about COVID.
Will Military Mandate COVID Vaccines? Know Your Rights.
With the Armed Forces projecting a SARS-CoV2 vaccine mandate by Sept. 1, many military families are inquiring about their exemption rights for an experimental drug.
As of July 1, the military reported COVID vaccination rates of between 58% to 77% across all branches. That means potentially 25% of U.S. military personnel may seek exemptions. What are their rights?
More Than 450 Airlines Can Now Use IBM’s Blockchain-Based Vaccine Passport
In April, travelers at London’s Heathrow airport had to wait as long as six hours to be cleared to fly. The bottlenecks were a result of airline agents struggling to make sense of the various COVID-19 health clearances travelers were presenting. Imagine small cards, stamped documents, and digital apps in various languages and formats. The lack of standardization was a killer.
As international travel ramps up in parts of the world, Amadeus, a reservation system used by 474 airlines, has adopted IBM’s digital health passport solution called IBM Digital Health Pass. Instead of presenting paper-based certifications, travelers need only scan a QR code sent by email at the gate. Travelers without smartphones can print a QR code. The backend technology authenticates credentials against requirements of each country—relieving from agents an onerous burden, given how frequently countries change travel restrictions as the pandemic evolves.
Biden Says CDC Will ‘Probably’ Recommend Kids Under 12 Wear Masks in School
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will “probably” advise children under age 12 who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear masks in school this fall.
Biden said at a CNN town hall in Cincinnati that kids older than 12 who are fully vaccinated should not wear masks, but he acknowledged that it could be difficult for some school districts to determine who is and is not vaccinated.
Nation’s Largest Hospital Group Supports Mandatory Coronavirus Vaccines for Health Workers
Washington Post via MSN reported:
The nation’s largest hospital association called Wednesday for all health workers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus as case numbers surge again.
“To protect all patients, communities and personnel from the known and substantial risks of COVID-19, the American Hospital Association strongly urges the vaccination of all healthcare personnel,” the organization said in a policy statement. “The AHA also supports hospitals and health systems that adopt mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies for healthcare personnel, with local factors and circumstances shaping whether and how these policies are implemented.”
Interview: ‘Facebook Cannot Arrest Me. That’s Why Pegasus Is Much More Dangerous Than Big Tech’
Over the last few years, there has been a steady stream of major news stories involving government surveillance or privacy concerns regarding Big Tech, from the Edward Snowden leaks to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. For some, the most recent Pegasus Project reports are neither surprising nor terribly concerning in their revelations of how governments have been using spyware developed by an Israel company to target journalists, activists and political rivals all over the world, including in India.
Yet these stories are not the same. The manner in which Pegasus was potentially deployed in India, covering Opposition leaders, Election Commission officers and journalists in the run-up to the 2019 elections, threatens the pillars of India’s electoral democracy.
Rolovich Won’t Attend Pac-12 Event Due to Vaccine Mandate
Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich said he will not participate on site next week during the Pac-12 media day in Los Angeles after choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
“As the Pac-12 Conference has required that all in-person participants at next week’s Pac-12 football media day be fully vaccinated I will participate remotely and look forward to talking about our football team and the incredible young men in our program,” Rolovich wrote in a statement posted Wednesday on Twitter. “I have elected not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for reasons which will remain private. While I have made my own decision I respect that every individual — including our coaches, staff and student-athletes — can make his or her own decision regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Eric Clapton Refuses to Play Venues Requiring Vaccines for Concertgoers
British rock icon Eric Clapton has said he will not perform at venues that require concertgoers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said proof of vaccination must be shown at clubs and venues from September. Clapton said he will not perform anywhere there is a “discriminated audience present”. His announcement came through the social media accounts of an outspoken anti-vaccine activist.
The guitarist said he felt “honour bound” to make the statement, which was posted on Wednesday to the accounts of Italian architect and film producer Robin Monotti. In May, Clapton said he had experienced a “severe” reaction to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
France Mandates Vaccine Passport to Visit Eiffel Tower, Other Tourist Sites — and Restaurants Are Next
No sooner had the Eiffel Tower reopened to the public than a new hoop materialized through which tourists must jump if they want to visit the iconic Paris landmark. In a new initiative to fight what the French government calls a “stratospheric” rise in delta variant infections, individuals must download and use a digital COVID pass to enter French museums, movie theaters, sports venues, festivals, top tourist attractions and more.
A government mandate to use le pass sanitaire, or “health pass,” took effect yesterday at cultural and tourist sites across France, as well as all events or places with more than 50 people. Visitors who turned up at the Eiffel Tower without proof of vaccination were offered on-the-spot COVID tests.
Stanford Doc Calls Vaccine Mandates ‘Unethical,’ Says Patients Can Choose + More
Stanford Doc Jay Bhattacharya Calls Vaccine Mandates ‘Unethical,’ Says Patients Can Choose
Stanford University Professor of Medicine Dr. Jay Bhattacharya believes it is “unethical” to mandate people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Bhattacharya joined Newsmax hosts Steve Cortes and Jenn Pellegrino on Tuesday night’s Cortes & Pellegrino to answer their questions about the virus and the vaccine.
Cortes asked the doctor whether he thought it was medically ethical to mandate children and teens to get the virus. He added that young people are not at great risk for serious infections.
Indiana University Students Appeal Federal Judge’s Refusal to Block Vaccine Mandate
A group of Indiana University (IU) students on Tuesday appealed a federal judge’s ruling denying their motion to put the university’s COVID vaccine mandate on hold pending the outcome of a federal lawsuit they filed last month.
The students also asked the district court to prevent the university from enforcing the mandate while the appeal is pending.
In a hearing on the preliminary injunction Monday, the district court found the students’ constitutional rights were at issue, but failed to acknowledge these rights were fundamental.
Pediatricians’ Group Says All Kids Should Wear Masks in School, but Some States Block Such Mandates
As students return to school in the coming weeks, some will be masked and some won’t. With different state laws around what schools can require — and some schools enforcing masks and others not — the ever-changing rules have left some parents, teachers and students confused.
A new CNN analysis has found that at least nine states — Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Vermont — have enacted legislation that prohibits districts from requiring masks in schools. The list of schools banning mask mandates has been constantly changing, but so far they are all states with Republican governors.
No, Delta Doesn’t Mean the Vaccinated — or Children — Need to Mask up Again
With COVID cases in the country rising as the Delta variant spreads, the best thing political and public-health leaders can do is encourage the hesitant to get vaccinated. Yet many are instead undermining confidence in the shots, which have proven overwhelmingly effective against the new strain.
That’s the message sent by calling for — and in some cases instituting — a return to mask mandates, even for the vaxxed.
CDC Advises Masks for Unvaccinated Students, Staff but Nashville Schools Won’t Require Them
New COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics advising unvaccinated students and staff to continue wearing masks inside school buildings won’t be enforced in most Tennessee schools this fall — but some Nashville parents are pushing back.
Metro Nashville Public Schools recently announced that students and staff will not be required to wear masks this fall, joining other districts across the state, including Murfreesboro City Schools, Rutherford County Schools, Williamson County Schools and Wilson County Schools in Middle Tennessee.
New Jersey Hospital Network Fires 6 Supervisors for Not Getting Vaccinated Against COVID
A New Jersey hospital network has fired a half-dozen high-ranking employees who refused to comply with a new policy requiring them to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
RWJBarnabas Health, one of the largest health care systems in the Garden State and in the nation, announced in May that it was mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all staff at the supervisory level and above, effective immediately. Those employees were required to have completed their course of vaccinations no later than June 30.
Parler CEO George Farmer: Big Tech’s COVID Censorship — It’s so Much Worse Than We Thought
Over the past year, examples of Big Tech censorship have multiplied, particularly around the topic of COVID-19. Questioning the wisdom of forcing children to wear masks, or even sharing news articles that challenged social distancing rules were enough to engage the social media giants’ censors. Facebook, Twitter, and others flagged posts, blocked certain content, and even banned some users for daring to question the established positions.
What has become apparent only in the last few weeks, however, is the involvement of the Biden White House in calling the shots on Big Tech’s COVID censorship. The White House has now admitted to monitoring private citizens’ Facebook pages, and asking Facebook to block content it finds objectionable.
Biden’s Attempt to Rope Big Tech Into More Censorship Is Downright Sinister
President Joe Biden wants to suppress speech that discourages Americans from being vaccinated against COVID-19. Because the First Amendment doesn’t allow him to do that, he is asking Facebook and other social-media giants to do it for him.
Or at least, that’s the way White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who calls the Biden administration’s demands for speech restrictions “our asks,” describes the situation. But given the federal government’s power to make life difficult for Facebook and other firms, the line between a request and a command is hazy, and so is the line between private content moderation and government censorship.
NYC to Require Vaccines or Weekly Tests for City Health, Hospital Workers: Sources
New York City will require all workers at city-run health care facilities and hospitals to be vaccinated or take weekly COVID tests, with positivity rates continuing to tick upward as the delta variant spreads, City Hall officials told NBC New York.
Mayor Bill de Blasio will release details regarding the requirement at his regular 10 a.m. news conference on Wednesday, sources said. The plan is aimed at the one-third of all health care and hospital workers in the city still not vaccinated.
Mark Cuban Offers Cole Beasley Vaccine Proposal With Financial Incentive
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban presented Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley with an offer on Tuesday morning that he may not be able to refuse: a share in Pfizer stock for his wife.
That’s only if Beasley follows through on the promise of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 and encourages others to get the vaccine on his social media accounts.
SIAC Makes Vaccination Mandatory for Athletes
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced Tuesday that a mandatory vaccination policy will be in place for student-athletes competing in the conference beginning in the 2021-22 school year.
Pursuant to this policy, all SIAC student-athletes, athletic related staff, coaches, officials and auxiliary groups (e.g., coaches, officials, marching bands, dance and cheer) participating in SIAC-sponsored sports are required to be fully vaccinated with a CDC-authorized COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with CDC guidelines. Albany State is a member of the SIAC.
Hawley Says Biden Claims 12 People Responsible for COVID Misinformation Comes From ‘Foreign Dark Money Group’
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said a “foreign dark money group” is behind the research cited by the Biden administration that 12 social media personalities are responsible for the majority of vaccine misinformation online.
“For days now, the Biden’s Administration has said 12 people are ‘guilty’ of spreading #COVID19 ‘misinformation’ on social media. Who compiled this list for them? The Center for Countering Digital Hate. A foreign dark money group,” Hawley tweeted on Tuesday, accompanied by a Guardian article titled, “Majority of COVID misinformation came from 12 people, report finds.”
France Forced to Soften Rules After Coronavirus Green Pass Backlash
The French government, which last week introduced some of Europe’s toughest measures against COVID-19, has been forced to row back on some restrictions following a pushback from industries and street protests.
Among the new rules, French President Emmanuel Macron sought to turbo-drive vaccinations by making proof of vaccination or immunity mandatory to enter cafés, restaurants and a range of other venues this summer.The scheme, which goes further than other big EU countries, was introduced to help break a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in France, driven by the more contagious Delta variant. On Monday, the government spokesperson Gabriel Attal warned that the increase in cases was “stratospheric” after France’s incidence rate increased by 125 percent in a week.
Vaccine Mandates More Likely Once FDA Grants Full Approvals, Health Experts Say + More
Vaccine Mandates More Likely Once FDA Grants Full Approvals, Health Experts Say
The United States could see a wave of COVID-19 vaccine mandates as soon as the Food and Drug Administration grants full approval to one or more of the shots, public health experts predicted.
The three vaccines authorized by the FDA for emergency use against the coronavirus have proven safe and effective under that expedited review process and in the real world, and doctors and the nation’s top public health officials have said there’s no need for anyone to wait to get inoculated.
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Masks in Schools for Everyone Over 2, Regardless of Vaccinations
The American Academy of Pediatrics released new COVID-19 guidance for schools on Monday that supports in-person learning and recommends universal masking in school of everyone over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status — a stricter position than that taken this month by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The AAP believes that, at this point in the pandemic, given what we know about low rates of in-school transmission when proper prevention measures are used, together with the availability of effective vaccines for those age 12 years and up, that the benefits of in-person school outweigh the risks in all circumstances,” the guidance says.
The 4 Retail Stores You Probably Shop at That Use Facial-Recognition Technology
Retail stores across the country are using facial recognition systems in their stores, leading to pushback by groups who say the technology is an invasion of privacy, Axios reported on Monday.
Last week, Fight for the Future launched an advocacy campaign against companies using facial recognition, which is often used for security purposes. The software can scan and store the faces of employees and customers — usually with the goal of preventing shoplifting and fraud.
“Your face should not be scanned, stored, or sold just because you walk into or work at a store,” Fight for the Future wrote. “Retailers across the country that are exploring this invasive technology should know that prioritizing profit over privacy is wrong.”
Anthony Fauci Tells Anti-Vaxxers to Sit Down and STFU as COVID Cases Surge
One of the most frustrating aspects of many conservatives’ refusal to follow the advice of health experts when it comes to COVID-19 is that they don’t want to wear masks or social distance, they’re demanding that life go back to normal, and yet they won’t do the most important thing when it comes to putting the pandemic behind us, i.e. get the damn vaccine.
So, you’ll have to excuse Anthony Fauci (and the rest of the Joe Biden administration) if they’re at-the-end-their-ropes piqued with what we would never dare call, but someone slightly less decorous might, these selfish mother-f–king idiots.
DeWine Signs Bill Temporarily Banning School COVID Vaccine Mandates
Columbus Underground reported:
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation Wednesday that could block schools from mandating vaccination against COVID-19 for the fall.
In the dying moments of the final legislative session before a summer recess, lawmakers tacked the vaccine provision as an amendment onto an unrelated bill regarding educational opportunities for military children. The amendment:
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- Forbids public K-12 schools and colleges from requiring any vaccine that has not yet received “full approval” from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- Forbids the schools from “discriminating” against anyone who has not been vaccinated, which includes infection control provisions like masks and social distancing.
- Does not apply to hospitals or health care facilities operated by or affiliated with universities.
De Blasio Rejects Calls for Reinstating NYC Indoor Mask Mandate Despite COVID Infection Rate Ticking up
Mayor de Blasio balked at the idea of reinstating an indoor face mask mandate in the city on Monday even though COVID-19 infections are ticking back up. Instead, he called for more vaccination efforts throughout the five boroughs.
“Masks have value, unquestionably, but masks are not going at the root of the problem. Vaccination is,” the mayor said during a live-streamed press briefing. “So we do not intend a mask mandate. We do intend to double down on vaccination.”
College Student Denied Admission to Dream School Despite Vaccine Exemption for Medical History
Incoming college freshman Olivia Sandor was denied admission into her dream institution, BYU Hawaii, after requesting to be exempt from taking the COVID-19 vaccine due to her high-risk medical history.
Sandor shared her story on “Hannity” Monday and explained how, after being given a vaccine back in 2019, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome – which left her paralyzed from the waist down for more than a month.
After receiving word that BYU would be requiring all students to be vaccinated, Sandor’s team of medical providers advised her against being injected with the non-FDA-approved coronavirus vaccine and wrote her a letter of exemption. “I do not want to relapse and have another episode of Guillain-Barre,” she said. “It’s really, truly not worth it to me.”
Illinois College Boards Suggest Schools Require Vaccination
Two state agencies that oversee higher education in Illinois on Monday encouraged colleges and universities to require COVID-19 vaccinations of students heading to campuses this fall.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board made the recommendation, which they say follows recently released guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. The state agencies contend the guidance will help facilitate the safe transition back to campus, as more students return to in-person learning.
DeSantis Vows to Take Cruise Ship Battle With CDC to Supreme Court
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) vowed Monday to appeal a court ruling in favor of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restrictions on cruise ships.
Why it matters: The cruise industry is worth billions of dollars for Florida’s economy and DeSantis filed a lawsuit against the CDC last April in an effort to see normal operations resume.
Of note: DeSantis succeeded in winning an injunction, but a federal appeals court ruled Saturday that the CDC regulations should remain in place.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb Urges Social Media Platforms to Curb COVID Vaccine Misinformation
Social media companies are falling short of their responsibility to regulate the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on their platforms, Dr. Scott Gottlieb said Monday on CNBC.
Networking giants like Facebook and Twitter allow accounts to amass large followings and to be verified, handing those users a franchise, he said in an appearance on “Squawk Box.”
“If they’re giving someone a very big platform to distribute information, they have an obligation to look at the information that’s being distributed,” said Gottlieb, a former chief of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under former President Donald Trump. “I do think that they have an affirmative responsibility here, and in some cases they’re not doing it.”
Facebook Will Let Users Become ‘Experts’ to Cut Down on Misinformation. It’s Another Attempt to Avoid Responsibility for Harmful Content.
Facebook is once again enlisting someone else to do its work for it.
The company said this week that it would let the administrators in its groups appoint users as “experts.”
That means the people who run the online communities — which are comprised of everything from housing opportunities to dogs to extremists — will choose people within those groups to become an authoritative voice that others can rely on, an initiative partly designed to stamp out misinformation.
How to Check if the Pegasus Spyware Is Installed on Your iPhone
If you’re concerned about recent reports of the Pegasus spyware reportedly installed by the Israeli NSO Group to hack journalists and world leaders, there’s a tool to check if it’s hidden on your iPhone. But you probably have nothing to worry about.
According to a report in the Washington Post in conjunction with nonprofit groups Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International and several others, military-grade spyware developed by an Israeli firm was used to hack some 40 smartphones “belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and two women close to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.”
Half of Australia Back in Lockdown as Delta Tests COVID-Zero
Half of Australia’s population is back in lockdown after South Australia state joined Victoria and New South Wales in ordering residents to stay at home as the Delta variant leaks across the country.
South Australia later Tuesday will impose Australia’s strictest lockdown since the start of the pandemic after recording two new cases in the community. Residents must stay within 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) of their homes and comply with a 6p.m. curfew as part of the draconian measures introduced to halt an outbreak seeded from a returned traveler.
