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Post by onelasttime on Jul 16, 2021 18:21:55 GMT
So a story came to light that the Administration is working with Facebook about the rampant misinformation about the virus/vaccine that is popping up on Facebook. It first came to my notice when this guy in the first tweet called the “merger” between Facebook and The Biden Administration “the classic definition of fascism “. I posted on the miscellaneous thread, a question was asked and aj2hall provided the details. (Thank you). Then this tweet popped up from today’s briefing at the White House. So we have now gone from the “classic definition of fascism “ to “spying” What is not clear to me is if the Feds have a team of folks reading every single Facebook post or if it’s Facebook through algorithms that is finding the misinformation. My guess it’s Facebook but I don’t know for sure. But say it’s the Feds monitoring all our posts on social media, would you be ok with that? For me it’s a grey area. I understand why the Biden Administration is working with Facebook about all the misinformation about the vaccine that is popping up on Facebook. All 50 states are reporting a surges in new cases of the virus and the majority is from unvaccinated folks. So it’s in the best interests of the citizens and country to get everyone who can be vaccinated, vaccinated. And eliminating misinformation goes a long way in making that goal happen. But still… |
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inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
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Post by inkedup on Jul 16, 2021 18:28:01 GMT
I think it's a huge overreach. Disinformation or not.
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Post by busy on Jul 16, 2021 18:37:12 GMT
Even if it's only public-facing posts, I think it's an overreach and a bad precedent.
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Post by mom on Jul 16, 2021 18:45:45 GMT
HUGE overreach. Misinformation or not. Pretty sure there should be more pressing issues than looking at my Facebook posts.
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Post by mollycoddle on Jul 16, 2021 19:04:24 GMT
I read this, and don’t have a problem with what I read.
"We've partnered with government experts, health authorities and researchers to take aggressive action against misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines to protect public health," a statement Facebook provided Newsweek said. "So far we've removed more than 18 million pieces of COVID misinformation, removed accounts that repeatedly break these rules, and connected more than 2 billion people to reliable information about COVID-19 and COVID vaccines across our apps."
Earlier this year, Facebook told users in an announcement on its Business blog that the company had more than 80 independent fact-checkers to review content in more than 60 languages as part of its effort to combat COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.
But Psaki said Thursday that the efforts Facebook has made to regulate misinformation is not enough.
"Information travels quite quickly on social media platforms," Psaki said. "Sometimes it's not accurate, and Facebook needs to move more quickly to remove harmful, violative posts."
**Disclaimer:I am not for govt monitoring social media in most instances. I believe that Covid is an exception, since the Delta variant is spreading so rapidly, and since there is a lot of misinformation and outright dumbfuckery out there that is killing people.
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Post by cbet on Jul 16, 2021 19:14:16 GMT
I would have a problem with them monitoring my emails, or my phone calls - where I have a reasonable expectation of privacy. But Facebook? Which is public and anyone can see it? I guess I just assume that nothing of the little bit I post on Facebook is at all private.
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tamra
Junior Member
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Post by tamra on Jul 16, 2021 19:22:12 GMT
I don’t have a problem with them monitoring social media. I’ve never had an expectation of privacy on a public forum.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Jul 16, 2021 19:23:05 GMT
Social media is, well, a media. Media monitoring for fake information is the way out of this mess, not just the pandemic but the radicalised forms of populism spreading like wildfire on the internet. I'm already getting a pop-up on every post that somehow mentions Covid-19 or vaccination (of any kind, even my friend's puppy getting their shots  ) so the monitoring is in place. This moves it out of the private and into the governmental sphere. The most important part of that is to outline the laws so this doesn't get used and abused for other reasons but misinformation spread (and it's going to be a b*tch to define what constitues misinformation). |
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Post by christine58 on Jul 16, 2021 19:24:04 GMT
But say it’s the Feds monitoring all our posts on social media, would you be ok with that? If you have nothing to hide...who cares if they do. We NEED to stop the false crap that is out there about these vaccines and if this helps...go for it. |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Jul 16, 2021 19:30:17 GMT
If you have nothing to hide...who cares if they do. We NEED to stop the false crap that is out there about these vaccines and if this helps...go for it. I think that the idea is that the government oversight could be seen as giving away individual privacy rights for more government control of citizens. Although, as other posters have said, I'm sure they (the government, Facebook, whoever) do this to some extent anyway-- because somehow they do get info about words, phrases, etc. that could be construed as terrorism, etc. in order to investigate, don't they? And Facebook posts are all public to some extent (depending on your privacy settings), so it's not totally private communication that they would be reviewing. |
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Post by Scrapper100 on Jul 16, 2021 19:36:28 GMT
I guess I don’t expect privacy on social media. If I’m in a group and I post I know everyone else in that group can see it. If I post on others where it’s just open and anyone can see it. Same here everyone can see it.
Emails, texts and phone calls yes I expect privacy but I’m not saying anything that would interest the government anyways.
Do I like that it’s monitored not a fan but understand why it needs to be done.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Jul 16, 2021 19:45:23 GMT
If you have nothing to hide...who cares if they do. We NEED to stop the false crap that is out there about these vaccines and if this helps...go for it. I think that the idea is that the government oversight could be seen as giving away individual privacy rights for more government control of citizens. Although, as other posters have said, I'm sure they (the government, Facebook, whoever) do this to some extent anyway-- because somehow they do get info about words, phrases, etc. that could be construed as terrorism, etc. in order to investigate, don't they? And Facebook posts are all public to some extent (depending on your privacy settings), so it's not totally private communication that they would be reviewing. Exactly. This moves their active operating terrain into misinformation and disinformation. The question we have to ask ourselves here is how big of an impact and risk misinformation/disinformation spread online are today. Considering the Jan. 6 attacks and the fate of the pandemic, I'm afraid we can't look away at the situation much longer. |
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Post by christine58 on Jul 16, 2021 19:55:13 GMT
If you have nothing to hide...who cares if they do. We NEED to stop the false crap that is out there about these vaccines and if this helps...go for it. while I agree with you in theory, in practice this could be seen as giving away individual privacy rights for more government control of citizens. Although, as other posters have said, I'm sure they do this to some extent anyway-- because somehow they do get info about words, phrases, etc. that could be construed as terrorism, etc., don't they? and Facebook posts are public to some extent, so it's not totally private communication that they're reviewing. Here's the thing...Facebook is public and a choice to either join or not. |
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Post by papersilly on Jul 16, 2021 20:05:34 GMT
I'm pretty sure they are doing it now under cover of national security. That reminds me, I should bring cookies out to that plumbing van that's been parked outside for weeks.
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Post by Zee on Jul 16, 2021 20:13:35 GMT
No because you already know they are or have the ability to watch anyone they want. If I didn't want that, I wouldn't have social media or the internet.
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sassyangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,456
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Post by sassyangel on Jul 16, 2021 21:18:16 GMT
I guess I pretty much assumed they were always doing this.
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sassyangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,456
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Post by sassyangel on Jul 16, 2021 21:24:27 GMT
HUGE overreach. Misinformation or not. Pretty sure there should be more pressing issues than looking at my Facebook posts. Most of the vaccine misinformation circulating online stems from just 10 separate accounts on Twitter/Facebook. These are damaging and undermining public health policy during a pandemic. I can see the importance of addressing something like that. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 13:10:56 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2021 21:32:45 GMT
Here's the thing. FBI already has a team that trolls through social media, either through stuff that was reported to them or because they're already monitoring groups/people.
FB already has an algorithm in place to flag posts. Granted it's not great and people land in FB jail for saying something like "I'd burn my house down if a spider that big showed up."
Plus you know different law enforcement groups are watching the "dark web" and other sites. To think that your social media isn't completely private is laughable.
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Post by spottiedottie on Jul 16, 2021 21:44:01 GMT
"Monitoring" social media posts is one thing. Asking Facebook to censor posts/posters the administration doesn't like is something else. According to Jen Psaki yesterday, the administration is asking FB to remove misinformation about vaccines coming from about 12 people who are posting about 65% of the anti-vaccine content. The "Disinformation Dozen" includes Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vax guy who has already been removed from Instagram.
I have a real problem with this. Covid or not, this is a very slippery slope. The US government should not be deciding what adults can see, read, or hear.
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,159
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Post by lindas on Jul 16, 2021 21:46:00 GMT
I don’t like it but I’m sure they have been doing it since the birth of social media. However they’re not talking about just monitoring, they’re talking about censorship and that I do have a big problem with. It opens the door for the government to decide what information you have access to. Scientists have differing opinions on climate change, are we only going to be allowed to hear from the side that agrees with whichever political party happens to be the majority. If I want my government to be able to tell me what I can and can’t see on the internet then I might as well live in a communist country.
Quote from Psaki;
"We're flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation. We're working with doctors and medical experts…who are popular with their audience with accurate information," she said Thursday. "So, we're helping get trusted content out there."
Psaki's remarks Friday drew bipartisan derision, with critics calling Big Tech outlets "state actors" and ripping the Biden administration for playing judge and jury on truth. One writer said it was a precursor to censoring other so-called "misinformation" on social issues.
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Post by littlemama on Jul 16, 2021 21:47:35 GMT
I dont have an issue with monitoring to eliminate dangerous falsehoods, but, i do see how it could be a slippery slope.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,398
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Post by RosieKat on Jul 16, 2021 22:10:36 GMT
I assume anything I'm posting on social media can be seen by anyone, even if I *think* privacy is locked down, etc. I would not be OK with government censoring it, and I think it would be a waste of government funds to have some crack team of people literally looking at everyone's posts all the time. But if I post something, it's game for whoever to be able to see.
ETA - I also would not be OK with the government telling Facebook they have to remove certain things. However, I do think there is room for government to call a halt to the spread of misinformation that harms the public welfare. I think that requires great caution and restraint, but there can be a place for that.
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Post by lisae on Jul 16, 2021 22:18:46 GMT
It would probably depend on what they did with what they found. However, I've always said that you shouldn't put anything on a screen you don't want the world to see.
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Post by hop2 on Jul 16, 2021 22:27:22 GMT
Um, the feds are for sure monitoring electronic communications. They have been for years. Your ‘social media posts’ are essentially public, even if you ‘lock it down’ it’s still accessible somewhere. Anyone who thinks ANY form of electronic communication is totally private is deceiving themselves. There’s a server somewhere with all of that info. ( and a back up server ) Seriously, the earliest forms of electronic communications ( networks at colleges around the world ) were saved on tapes. They may even still exist somewhere in university basements somewhere long forgotten. Electronic communication has never been totally private.
The horse is out of the barn on this one. Long time ago. The only entity with more info on you is google lol. ( and maybe Russia )
For the most part it is computers monitoring stuff until a flag is raised.
If your not ok with it then don’t use electronic forms of communication.
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Post by dewryce on Jul 16, 2021 22:32:01 GMT
I haven’t given it much thought, off the top of my head…I think just monitoring it? It’s up for public consumption; that’s seems like a virtual/online example of a police officer standing on a street corner looking around to see what’s going on. The government asking Facebook for it to be removed seems like a grey area and a slippery slope to me. Because while FB has a choice, coercion is a concern. But I absolutely see the need for it in this instance. It’s unprecedented and a global crisis.. Making them remove it, hell to the no. I think I’d be okay with FB leaving the information there, attaching a disclaimer like Twitter does, and also the facts/data describing why it is wrong with links to sources.
Is there a poll? I can’t see it but it is in the title.
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Post by aj2hall on Jul 16, 2021 22:33:01 GMT
I don’t like it but I’m sure they have been doing it since the birth of social media. However they’re not talking about just monitoring, they’re talking about censorship and that I do have a big problem with. It opens the door for the government to decide what information you have access to. Scientists have differing opinions on climate change, are we only going to be allowed to hear from the side that agrees with whichever political party happens to be the majority. If I want my government to be able to tell me what I can and can’t see on the internet then I might as well live in a communist country. Quote from Psaki; "We're flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation. We're working with doctors and medical experts…who are popular with their audience with accurate information," she said Thursday. "So, we're helping get trusted content out there." Psaki's remarks Friday drew bipartisan derision, with critics calling Big Tech outlets "state actors" and ripping the Biden administration for playing judge and jury on truth. One writer said it was a precursor to censoring other so-called "misinformation" on social issues. Scientists do not have differing opinions on climate change. Reputable scientists all agree that climate change is real. The White House is not flagging posts on climate change. climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree*: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities. The government is not telling you what you can and can't see. They're only flagging posts with vaccine misinformation on facebook. There's nothing stopping you from creating your own website and posting information or posting on message board or anywhere else on the internet. Facebook, not the White House, is removing posts or flagging them. Facebook as a private company has the right to remove posts that it deems dangerous or inappropriate. |
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Post by monklady123 on Jul 16, 2021 22:48:44 GMT
Personally I don't assume that anything on the internet is "safe". It's the internet. Plus, if someone wants to monitor my FB posts they really need to find something better to do with their time. The last several posts I've started on FB are: a photo of a friend's new kitten lying in the bathroom sink, a comment about the HUGE rainstorm we had a few days ago, a rant about the post office (I'd love the government to monitor that so they can get rid of DeJoy), several photos of my dog, a comment about our July 4th tradition of watching "Independence Day", a photo of us huddled in the hallway during our recent tornado warning, etc. Hey Monitors, have fun with that.  |
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Post by myshelly on Jul 16, 2021 23:03:31 GMT
I think the people commenting on an expectation of privacy aren’t seeing the issue. It’s not a privacy issue at all.
It’s a what happens when the government gets to tell you what to believe and censors anything that doesn’t fall in line with their view issue. It’s a freedom of information issue. It’s a free media and press issue.
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Post by aj2hall on Jul 16, 2021 23:17:19 GMT
The White House is not censoring any genuine press or media sources. They are not stopping Fox News, NewsMax or OAN from publishing whatever they want. The only platform that they're looking at is facebook. They are not censoring any other websites, message boards etc.
The White House is also not telling anyone what to believe. They are only trying to get factual information about the vaccine out there in the middle of a public health crisis to prevent people from dying.
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,538
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Post by pinklady on Jul 16, 2021 23:19:52 GMT
As to the question posed, no I do not have a problem with the Feds monitoring social media posts. I am not stupid and I know that anything posted on the internet is not private. If you (general you) expect your social media to be private, you just are not bright.
Now for my added opinion, I really don't care if warning labels are added to social media posts. I do have a problem with content being deleted. That is a slippery slope. Even though I'm glad anti-vax posts may be deleted, what about the next time when something I believe in is deleted. I can't have my cake and eat it too so, I'd have to go with no deleting, just flagging posts.
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) so the monitoring is in place. This moves it out of the private and into the governmental sphere. The most important part of that is to outline the laws so this doesn't get used and abused for other reasons but misinformation spread (and it's going to be a b*tch to define what constitues misinformation). 
