Sign in Subscribe
Vaccines

Attorneys General Urge Facebook and Twitter to Halt the Spread of Anti-Vaxxer Disinformation

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The attorneys general of eleven states have written to Facebook and Twitter CEOs Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey, expressing concerns over the spread of anti-vaxxer disinformation on their social media platforms. The letters urge both companies to take stronger measures to prevent the spread of false information about coronavirus vaccines, which is threatening to undermine vaccine acceptance and harm the nation's recovery. According to a recent report, anti-vaxxer accounts on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter reach over 59 million followers, targeting people of color and Black Americans specifically. The attorneys general warn that the companies' failure to enforce their guidelines on vaccine misinformation will prolong the pandemic and cause unnecessary deaths.

Key Takeaways:

  • The attorneys general of eleven states, led by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, have written to Facebook and Twitter CEOs Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey to express their concerns over the spread of anti-vaxxer disinformation on their platforms.
  • The letters urge both companies to take stronger measures to prevent the spread of false information about coronavirus vaccines, which is threatening to undermine vaccine acceptance and harm the nation's recovery.
  • Anti-vaxxer accounts on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter reach over 59 million followers, targeting people of color and Black Americans specifically, who have suffered the worst health impacts of the virus and whose vaccination rates are lagging.
  • Twitter and Facebook have yet to remove from all their platforms the accounts of prominent anti-vaxxers who have repeatedly violated the companies' terms of service, with 12 such accounts responsible for 65% of public anti-vaccine content on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
  • Facebook has failed to consistently apply misinformation labels and popups on Facebook pages and groups that discuss vaccines or COVID-19, and has mistakenly flagged pro-vaccine pages and content in ways that have undermined pro-vaccine public education efforts.
  • Facebook has allowed anti-vaxxers to skirt its policy of removing misinformation that health experts have debunked, by failing to prevent them from using video and streaming tools like Facebook Live and sites like Bitchute, Rumble, and Brighteon to evade detection.
  • The attorneys general call on Facebook and Twitter to take immediate steps to fully enforce their companies' guidelines against vaccine misinformation, which can prevent needless illness and death and hasten the nation's recovery.

Statistics:

  • Over 59 million social media followers are exposed to anti-vaxxer disinformation on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.
  • 12 anti-vaxxers' personal accounts and their associated organizations, groups, and websites are responsible for 65% of public anti-vaccine content on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
  • Anti-vaxxer accounts are targeting people of color and Black Americans specifically, who have suffered the worst health impacts of the virus and whose vaccination rates are lagging.

Sources:

  • Counterhate.com (Center for Countering Digital Hate)
  • Joint letter to Facebook and Twitter CEOs Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey from the attorneys general of eleven states, led by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong.

Read more