Thread by @justhuman501c3

1/ 14 state attorneys general want answers from @Facebook re: if the #DisinformationDozen received special treatment from the platform, per @NanditaB1 for @Reuters.
reuters.com/technology/fou…

2/ The #DisinformationDozen—as identified by @CCDHate—are “12 anti-vaxxers who are responsible for almost two-thirds of anti-vaccine content circulating on social media platforms.” —@NanditaB1

3/ But we aren’t all viewed by the algorithm as equal targets. As discussed in an episode of @EpidemicPodcast, social media & disinformation algorithms target vulnerable populations. Listen here: bit.ly/3olnIHW

4/ @MutaleNkonde, founder of @AI4theppl, says this isn’t a new problem. The #MuellerInvestigation revealed African-Americans were most targeted by disinformation in the 2016 election. The goal? To depress the Black vote in swing states.

5/ During a pandemic, the consequence of disinformation being fed repetitively to specific groups is more death amongst those populations. A @CDCgov study released last month showed the unvaccinated to be 11x more likely to die of COVID.
apnews.com/article/scienc…

6/ Disinfo is dangerous for public health & has massive geopolitical implications. How did Russia use the vaccine race as an opportunity to fill a power vacuum left by the US, cause distrust of wealthy govts, & drive a wedge in the EU?
Listen here:
bit.ly/3xyDfZ1

7/ So how do we fix a problem this massive? It’s clear from @WSJ’s @dseetharaman, @JeffHorwitz & @ScheckWSJ’s latest piece for @WSJ that AI moderation isn’t the answer…at least not yet.
wsj.com/articles/faceb…

8/ “@Facebook’s AI can’t consistently identify first-person shooting videos, racist rants,” or even differentiate cockfighting from car crashes, per @wsj, & 1 senior engineer estimated AI moderation only removed 2% of hate speech that violated the rules.

9/ Dr. @CelineGounder testified before Congress in April on the issue of rampant misinformation about Covid vaccines. She answered Qs from @SenAmyKlobuchar & recommended deplatforming the #DisinformationDozen.
justhumanproductions.org/articles/dr-go…

10/ This is an idea supported by experts in disinformation we’ve interviewed for @EpidemicPodcast. @Imi_Ahmed, founder of @CCDHate, said users fear being deplatformed & “it damages their ability to fundraise” & recruit.

11/ Experts we spoke to for S1E56 of @EpidemicPodcast offered other long game solutions, too, ranging from teaching individuals critical thinking skills to changing public health comms strategy.
Listen here: bit.ly/3dIIvBD

12/ @johnfocook, a @GeorgeMasonU prof on misinformation, created an app called @CrankyUncles to teach critical thinking skills. A cartoon uncle mentors you on the techniques of science-denialism & trains you to spot logical fallacies.
crankyuncle.com

13/ It’s based on #InoculationTheory. “If you expose people to a weakened form of misinformation, then that builds up their immunity, their resistance, so that when they encounter actual misinformation, they’re less likely to be influenced.” —@johnfocook

14/ @CWard1e, US director of @FirstDraftNews, said we need to get "better at creating really emotional, engaging content” at the community level. Or as Cook put it, “Fight sticky myths with stickier facts.” Journal articles can’t compete with catchy infographics on social media.

15/ When disinformation networks game the social media algorithms, public health, safety, & democracy are threatened. It’s up to Congress to regulate social media, & it’s up to us as voters to tell our elected officials what we think is important.

16/ Parting thought from @Imi_Ahmed: ”We are highly interdependent on the information that others consume so that we can build a coherent worldview that allows us to prevent things like violent extremism, QAnon, conspiracy-ism, anti-vax misbelief...” (1/2)

17/ “...So write your representative & make them aware that you care about this issue.” —@Imi_Ahmed, founder of @CCDHate (2/2)

18/ Find Season 1 of @EpidemicPodcast on @ApplePodcasts, #GooglePodcasts, @Spotify, & @Stitcher to hear from some of the world’s leading infectious disease, public health, & other experts on the science, public health, & social impact of the coronavirus pandemic.