Just 12 People Are Behind Most Vaccine Hoaxes On Social Media, Research Show

[douglas9]

Researchers have found just 12 people are responsible for the bulk of the misleading claims and outright lies about COVID-19 vaccines that proliferate on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

"The 'Disinformation Dozen' produce 65% of the shares of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media platforms," said Imran Ahmed, chief executive officer of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which identified the accounts.




https://www.npr.org/2021/05/13/996570855/disinformation-dozen-test-facebooks-twitters-ability-to-curb-vaccine-hoaxes

[underpants]

1. And everyone has weird Uncle or high school friend

who reposts that crap endlessly on Facebook

[Hugin]

4. I've been lucky.

Even the few rabid barking mad bomb throwing radicals among my friends list hasn't gone there.

I guess I can pick them or maybe they're afraid of me.

[SoCalNative]

6. Crazy Q co-worker

for me who posts that crap.

[abqtommy]

2. We should just Lock. Them. All. Up.

[mopinko]

3. this needs to be a crime.

these fuckers are getting rich on this shit and it needs to stop.

[niyad]

5. Hey, npr, it would have been helpful had you actually posted all their names, not just

kennedy.

[AZLD4Candidate]

8. Here they are. All twelve

The report accuses Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who was banned from Instagram last month — Joseph Mercola, Ty and Charlene Bollinger — whose Twitter accounts were briefly suspended at the beginning of the pandemic — Sherri Tenpenny, Rizza Islam, Rashid Buttar, Erin Elizabeth, Sayer Ji, Kelly Brogan, Christiane Northrup, Ben Tapper and Kevin Jenkins of spreading disinformation and claims that their social media accounts "have repeatedly violated Facebook and Twitter’s terms of service agreements." And the CCDH has receipts — the report is full of screenshots of “example violations” that range from misleading to antisemitic.

Several of these users have responded online, calling the report a “hitlist” and accusing the CCDH of trying to "control us with tricks & lies."

https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/544712-twelve-anti-vaxxers-are-responsible-for-two

[niyad]

23. Thank you for this very helpful list. I am not surprised to see kennedy and that crackpot

mercola. I was disappointed to learn here recently that northrup is a whack job, so not surprised at her, either. Have never heard of any of the others, but I am not on social media.

[RVN VET71]

15. The story includes a link with all of the names.

Unfortunately, no other information. I’d like to send some thoughts to these people and I’m sure millions of others would as well.

[niyad]

24. The npr story had a link? Must have missed it. The names should have been IN the story, NOT in

a link. Sloppy journalism.

[Scrivener7]

7. And the social media platforms don't shut them down.

[hermetic]

9. The 12 people

Besides Kennedy are:
Joseph Mercola
Ty & Charlene Bollinger
SherriTenpenny
Rizza Islam
Rashid Buttar
Erin Elizabeth
Sayer Ji
Kelly Brogan
Christiane Northrup
Ben Tapper
Kevin Jenkins

You have to follow the links in the NPR article to find them, and more

https://252f2edd-1c8b-49f5-9bb2-cb57bb47e4ba.filesusr.co

This link show tons of Facebook pages from all over: https://www.newsguardtech.com/special-report-covid-19-vaccine-misinformation/

People have had posts deleted and sometimes been suspended but there is just much lying going on, it's gotta be a real challenge to keep up with.

[AllyCat]

16. Have a family member who believes this stuff.

Claims she doesn't do social media (probably doesn't) but listens to "all voices" on YouTube. These people are insane. This should not be allowed.

[hermetic]

18. I agree

We have worked SO HARD for the past year, masking and gloving and wet-wiping. Now we have a vaccine and hope this thing can be defeated but these ignorant jerks just keep on doing what they can to prevent that. I have tried to argue online but quickly realized that's a really bad idea.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Lies damaging public health are a fraud and crime against humanity

Drugs and medicines and medical procedures must adhere to rules and regulation, people practicing medicine without a license are shutdown, newspapers are subject to libel, people are vulnerable to slander, but this nonsense can't be muzzled?

[Botany]

11. Here is another. Peter Alexander a Trumper now at American Institute of Economic Research

https://www.aier.org/staffs/paul-e-alexander/ 5 seconds on his home page shows he is a crackpot.

I had good friend sucked in by his bullshit.

[Hekate]

12. KnRnBookmark

[AllyCat]

14. What happened to R. Kennedy Jr.?

I used to like his show on Air America or whatever it was at the time. He just went off the deep-end.

[yonder]

17. My mom got sucked into Sherri Tenpenny's schtick.

It made it difficult to convince her to get vaccinated. Thankfully, we prevailed.

[The Mouth]

19. End them

Give them the same consideration that any other genocidal criminals get. Better yet, they disappear into the night and fog.

[AllyCat]

20. Uh, that sounds harsh and possibly against TOS.

We don't "disappear" people. Delete their accounts should be sufficient. For the ones who persist, charge with criminal activity, try, and punish accordingly.

[The Mouth]

22. They should get the exact same treatment

as terrorists setting off bombs and shooting people.

[KPN]

21. There comes a time when protecting freedom actually and ultimately requires taking steps that

actually constrain some personal freedoms. The Patriot Act is a prime example of this. During WWII a number of constraints were put on personal freedoms including on consumption and some behaviors. The mask requirements implemented by States is another recent and good example.

Frankly, I think we need to do some hard thinking about "freedom of speech". Perhaps we can live within the confines of existing law and still regulate the ability to deliberately spread false, unsubstantiated, deceptive, insurrection leading antagonistic, etc., information and messaging. It is this stuff that is going to ultimately lead to loss of freedoms AND lives -- it already has.

The right to bear arms is another!!!

Our society, let alone real freedom, cannot continue to exist with the social and political upheaval these untethered "rights" to lie/mislead using media and freely obtain military style weapons exist. They are counter to everything intended by the Bill of Rights itself.