Facebook vows to crack down on Covid-19 vaccine misinformation but it’s easy to find fake posts

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Facebook has been dealing with anti-vaxxer content for years. Late last year, it established new rules to address Covid-19 vaccine misinformation after a promise two years ago to reduce the spread of anti-vaxxer content. But deceptive and scary content about the Covid vaccines, as well as misinformation, is spreading on the platform at a time when the stakes could not be higher: misinformation about the vaccine can mean life or death.

Four of the top 10 search results for “vaccines” on Facebook were for Facebook for anti-vaccine accounts, including “vaccines,” “vaccines,” “antivaxxknowthefacts,” and “cv19vaccinereactions,” according to a series of searches conducted by CNN Business from many different Instagram manipulations starting two weeks ago.

Shortly afterwards, Instagram updated its search interface on mobile devices to display three reliable results, including the CDC account, followed by a “See More Results” tab. Users are then shown a number of anti-vaccine accounts that click on that option, and this may be the digital equivalent of shaking the mess in a bedroom under the bed.

Some of these accounts have followed many, raising the question of whether Instagram helped them as a key product for users who were just looking for vaccine information to grow their audience. The “cv19vaccinereactions” account has more than 77,000 followers, dedicated to recording allegations of adverse reactions to the vaccine. The account often shares unsubstantiated reports and includes unconfirmed links between people receiving the Covid-19 vaccine and major health events, including stroke or stroke. premature birth.

The fact that some of this anti-vaxx content is still hidden in plain sight on the platforms reveals a controversial difference in Facebook’s approach: A company spokesperson says Facebook distinguishes between vaccine misinformation in particular, which it breaks down, and posts that express a broader anti – vaccine sentiment, which allows it on the platform.

In December, Facebook said it would remove claims about coronavirus vaccines issued by public health officials, including unfounded conspiracy theories that contain microchips. Previously, Facebook’s policies prevented misinformation about Covid-19 that “adds to the risk of impending violence or physical harm.”

Public health experts have said they fear that incorrect information about Covid-19 vaccines and anti-vaccine content in general on social media could lead to people refusing to get the picture. “If they are scared to get away with lies made through social media, we will have a real problem getting out of this pandemic,” said Dr. LJ Tan, chief strategy officer. at the Vaccine Action Consortium (IAC).

Facebook spokesman Joe Osborne said the company had been working to “reduce the number of people who see false information” about vaccines and is trying to do more to tackle fake vaccine content. are outside these policies. “

Osborne said the company is removing claims about the Covid-19 vaccine issued by public health experts and adding labels and reducing the circulation of other misinformation that has been proven fraudulent by its third-party intelligence research partners.

When the revolution swept measles across the U.S. nearly two years ago, Facebook promised to counter misinformation by restricting access to such content on its platforms, but he soon stopped banning it altogether. In March 2019, Facebook said it would “reduce the ranking of organizations and pages that spread false information about vaccines” by not including them in recommendations or in predictions when uploaders -use into the checkbar. But two months later, CNN Business discovered that Instagram was still serving up posts from anti – vaccine accounts and anti – vaccine hashtags for anyone searching for the word “vaccines.”
While Facebook removed a large private group dedicated to anti-vaccine content in November 2020, CNN Business found that more than 20 anti-vaxxer groups are still on the platform, with membership ranging from a few hundreds to tens of thousands of users. (The company said the group they dismissed in November was identified for opposing its restatement policies – which will prevent group executives from forming a group similar to the one that the company fired – as well as violating its policies against the QAnon conspiracy.)

As they searched for the word “vaccine” on Facebook groups appearing last week, three of the top 20 results on the platform led to organizations promoting anti-vaccine content, citing includes groups called “Say No Covid 19 Vaccine,” “COVID-19 Vaccine Injury Stories” and “Vaccine Conversation: A Forum for Both Pro and Anti Vaxxers” – which has over 50,000 members. The list is changing. A few days later, none of these groups were in the top 20, but results 18 through 20 showed groups discussing vaccine side effects or side effects. Scrolling down further, it was easy to find other anti-vaxxer groups in the search results, including one titled “Unvaccinated and Successful,” which makes wide and consistent claims in his description linking vaccines with autism and other disorders and diseases. It’s unclear what powers Facebook search recommendations are and why the results change from day to day. Facebook did not provide a clear explanation after several requests for comment.

Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, said misinformation on social media was “dangerous” and said it could have “real effects.”

“We’re in a race with the virus,” she said. “We need to get everyone who is eligible for the vaccines as soon as possible.”

One Facebook public body, with more than 58,000 members, has been dedicated to posts about “vaccine injuries and reactions.” A number of recent posts on the group ‘s page include links that have been identified as “false information” by independent Facebook verifiers or that have a label stating “Missing Context.” independent intelligence claims this information could be misleading. “One link shared – and identified as misleading by independent intelligence verifiers – claimed that 53 people died in Gibraltar because of Covid-19 vaccine. Despite the warning leaflets, members of the group continue to communicate with these links, expressing their doubts about Facebook information verifiers and sharing unconfirmed stories or theories about vaccines being dangerous.

“A story doesn’t have to be right to change minds. That’s what we’re fighting right now,” Tan IAC said. “In the age of the internet, science is not the most powerful story.”

El-Sadr of Columbia warned people to keep an eye on individual news or stories they read in such Facebook groups – which may or may not be true or linked to the vaccine.

“Most people so far have received completely hopeless vaccines,” she said. “We need to keep in mind people. These vaccines have had a very safe image and are very effective.”

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