Corona Daily 028: The Disinformation Dozen

“They are killing people”, said President Biden yesterday when a reporter asked if he wished to pass any message to Facebook and other social media platforms. “The pandemic is now only among the unvaccinated…”

In May 2020, a 26 minute video called “Plandemic” had alleged that a secret group of powerful people were using the virus and the potential vaccines to make more money and further consolidate their grip over the world. On YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, ‘Plandemic’ was viewed more than eight million times and had generated hundreds of thousands of posts.

*****

“Center for countering digital hate” (CCDH) is a UK/US based organization. It tries to fight the fringe movements, the custodians and drivers of hate and misinformation. This organization did a detailed analysis of the posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media. Curiously enough, they found 65% of the anti-vaccine posts were created/shared by just 12 individuals. Analysis of anti-vaxx content on Facebook showed an even greater concentration. These 12 people were responsible for 73% of the content. The CCDH research showed that by December 2020, the anti-vaxx accounts had a following of 59.2 million.

A detailed report prepared by the center is called “the Disinformation Dozen”. CCDH has requested Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to completely de-platform the dangerous dozen, instrumental in creating vaccine hesitancy at a critical crossroad in the pandemic.  

*****

The varied group includes physicians who preach pseudoscience, a bodybuilder, a wellness blogger, a religious zealot.

The most well known name (or rather surname) is Robert F. Kennedy Jr, nephew of the late American president. He is a lifelong anti-vaxx missionary. His posts said Pfizer and Moderna vaccines cause miscarriages, pregnant women must avoid them. 86 year old baseball legend, Hank Aaron, died eighteen days after taking the vaccine. Kennedy called it suspicious and part of the wave of deaths caused by the vaccines. Kennedy is banned on Instagram but active on other social media.

Joseph Mercola is an anti-vaccine entrepreneur who peddles dietary supplements and false cures as alternatives to vaccines. According to him, HIV doesn’t cause AIDS. Mobile phone radiation increases the risk of cancer. He repeatedly confirms the same number of people died in 2020, on average, as in the previous years. Why is it called a lethal pandemic? This guy has 3.6 million followers.

His partner Erin Elizabeth has a website called “Health Nut News”. She claims vaccines are part of the medical industry plan to create a “chronically ill population”. Creatively, she calls it ‘Harmacy’.

A couple, Ty and Charlene Bollingers, promoted the theory that Bill Gates plans to inject a microchip into everyone. “Have you had enough of the fake pandemic yet?” ask their posts. Bollingers’ interests are diverse. Their posts confirm the US presidential election was stolen. The couple spoke at the rally on 6 January.

Sherri Tenpenny claims vaccines cause autism. Vaccines also magnetise people and connect them with cellphone towers. She has written four books opposing vaccines. The longer you wear a mask, the more unhealthy you get, she tweets.

Rizza Islam tweets covid vaccines make women infertile. Rizza Islam himself was infected, but recovered from Covid in 48 hours, by following a special diet. Rashid Buttar urges followers to avoid covid-19 tests, because they carry living micro-organisms.

8 Sayer Ji, probably not a real name but with a real large following, says the Pfizer vaccine has killed more people than covid. 40 times more people, and among the younger group 260 times. Kelly Brogan, his partner, claims to practice ‘holistic psychiatry’. She says human diseases are not caused by infectious agents, but rather by psychological factors. No such thing as little invisible pathogens, it is all in your minds. The virus doesn’t exist. The fear of a virus makes people sick and die.

Christiane Northrup recommends HCQ and Ivermectin as cures. She is certain vaccines cause an 800% increase in chronic illnesses. Ben Tapper, a chiropractor, speaks out against masking. Kevin Jenkins calls vaccines a conspiracy to wipe out black people.

*****

Should Facebook ban the disinformation dozen? What about their freedom of speech? I will offer my view on this delicate debate tomorrow.

Ravi