Pinterest blocks vaccine-related research to curb the spread of anti-Vaxx abutments



[ad_1]

While social media and research platforms are struggling with the role they play in spreading anti-vaccine propaganda, Pinterest has chosen to completely block vaccine-related research until the next day. He can find a better way to monitor publications.

"We are doing our best to remove malicious content, but we know there are bad ones that we have not yet achieved," Ifeoma Ozoma, head of public policy and public affairs, told The Guardian. social impact at Pinterest. "We hope to be able to move from the destruction of the site to the mere coverage of good content. Until then, it's better. "

This is not an entirely new practice for Pinterest, which claims to block some vaccine-related research since last year. But the renewed interest in online misinformation fueled by the growing measles epidemic in Washington State, which shows what can happen when parents do not vaccinate their children, has redoubled its efforts.

An attempt to search for "vaccine" on Pinterest on Thursday gave an empty screen. Research on "MMR", the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, also yielded no results.


But the approach is not hermetic. HuffPost discovered on the site anti-vaccine propaganda by searching for related terms, such as "flu vaccine" and "polio".

Pinterest regularly updates a list of terms – as well as pins, tips and accounts – it blocks for violating the site's health misinformation policy, said a spokesman.

The policy has been in effect since 2017 and states that Pinterest does not "allow tips if they have immediate and detrimental effects on the health of a Pinner or on public safety", which includes "promotion". false treatments for terminal or chronic diseases – vaccination advice. "

Pinterest's attempt to curb the spread of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories comes as other social media and research giants, such as Facebook and Google, face increasing pressure to reduce dangerous and misleading content.

Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Who chairs the House's Intelligence Committee, joined other journalists on social media on Wednesday. screenshots vaccines Searches on Facebook. This effort has demonstrated the prevalence of anti-vaccine propaganda in auto-fill suggestions.

"Last week, I wrote to Facebook and Google to express my concern that their sites are directing users to misinformation that discourages vaccinations and harms public health," wrote Schiff.

Facebook responded to Schiff's letter last week, saying it "was exploring additional measures to better fight the problem."

The company said in a statement that these measures could include "reducing or eliminating this type of content in recommendations, including groups you should join, and downgrading it in search results, while ensuring availability better and more reliable information. "

Facebook and Google have not responded to requests for comments.

[ad_2]

Source link