Surgeon general calls out platforms over COVID-19 misinformation

The report calls for an all-of-society push to address vaccine and coronavirus misinformation, including sweeping policy recommendations for companies like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy specifically calls on companies to redesign their algorithms to “avoid amplifying misinformation.” He also suggests that they build more “friction” into sharing functions that urge users to rethink whether to share a post containing false information.

Murthy also recommends that platforms put out “clear consequences for accounts that repeatedly violate platform policies,” like instituting broader bans and suspensions for sharing misinformation.

Previously:

White House ‘Flagging’ COVID ‘Disinformation’ for Social Media Companies

Trump did similar but I don’t remember any outrage. I didn’t even know about it, until I read this on TechDirt (the author claims that the current administration is only complaining, not demanding). I don’t see it that way, though, and feel there’s no difference; it’s fascism!