Why false vaccine claims persist on Facebook, despite a ban

The evolution of COVID-19 misinformation on Facebook 

View this email in your browser Hi there, Editor-in-Chief Angie Holan is out this week, so you're receiving PolitiFact Daily, the Monday-Friday email I write. This newsletter keeps you up-to-date with the latest and greatest fact-checks from PolitiFact. Sign up for the daily newsletter here >> You may have to click to update your profile, and a verification email will be sent to your inbox. Let me know if you have any issues; I'll make sure your preferences are up to date. - Josie Hollingsworth, PolitiFact Audience Engagement editor  (Shutterstock) Share Tweet Forward False vaccine claims persist on Facebook, despite a ban. Here's why We all remember it this time last year: Our well-meaning friends said they had "proven" prevention plans to avoid contracting the coronavirus. Hot lemon water, essential oils, extended sunlight — these were going to be our saving graces amid the pandemic. Where did we see these (very false) claims? As much of the country was locked down, and many Americans were confined to their homes, we saw these "miracle cures" posted on social media. In the early days of the pandemic, a Facebook page for Earthley promised an easy way to avoid getting COVID-19. The wellness company promoted a Vitamin D cream and an elderberry elixir to strengthen the body's immune response and "help fight off the possibility of you or your family getting the coronavirus."  The post appeared to violate Facebook's policy for false claims of coronavirus treatments and cures. It was serious enough that the Federal Trade Commission mentioned it in a warning letter amid the agency's crackdown on coronavirus scams.  Nearly one year later, Earthley is still spreading false information about COVID-19 and the vaccines — despite Facebook's new rules against that content. "It doesn't take an advanced, opaque algorithm like Facebook likes to use to predict this behavior," said John Gregory, deputy health editor at NewsGuard, a firm that tracks online misinformation. "The pages we've seen spreading these myths … they are pages that have been spreading health misinformation in most cases for years." Facebook's strategy for tamping down misinformation about vaccines is to single out certain categories of anti-vaccine claims, rather than taking a broad approach. The result is that many types of false or exaggerated claims against vaccines are allowed to remain on the platform. As Facebook faces criticism from both parties in Congress, it is reluctant to take additional action that could be seen as a violation of free speech. No spin, just facts you can trust. Democracy depends on it. Support the truth today. Yes, I support PolitiFact! Make a tax-deductible donation to make this message go away. "People often say things that aren't verifiably true, but that speak to their lived experiences, and I think we have to be careful restricting that," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said during a March 25 House hearing. Here's a look at what Facebook promised, the gray areas of their policy, and where "super spreader" vaccine misinformation content stands >> Your Thursday reading:  A video says COVID-19 vaccines are "weapons of mass destruction" that "could wipe out the human race." Pants on Fire! No, Joe Biden didn't put groups that oppose abortion on a domestic extremist list or label them violent, as Facebook posts say. Biden ordered a federal assessment of the threat posed by domestic violent extremism. The assessment lists several categories of domestic, violent extremist groups, including ones with "ideological agendas in support of pro-life or pro-choice beliefs." The assessment does not list anti-abortion groups generally as being domestic violence extremist groups. Mostly False. The COVID-19 relief plan signed into law in March includes an estimated $5 billion, mostly to pay off debt, for socially disadvantaged farmers — those in groups such as Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice. A post simplifies the reasoning behind the legislation. Half True. You'll notice there are no April Fool's jokes in this email. Fact-checkers aren't huge fans. Tomorrow, however, is International Fact-Checking Day, a celebration of the truth! Stay tuned to what we have in store for you, PolitiFact readers! Thanks for reading,  Josie Hollingsworth Audience Engagement Editor   Send this link to your friends so they can sign up for PolitiFact Daily Help us stand up for the facts. Support PolitiFact today. Our mailing address is: PolitiFact • 801 3rd St S • St. Petersburg, FL 33701   Copyright © 2021 PolitiFact, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can *update your preferences or *unsubscribe from this list Subscription Information This email was sent to Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog  *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally