US Surgeon General orders tech companies to reveal sources of COVID-19 misinformation

The Washington Post has reported that the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has called on tech companies to provide information on sources and the scale of misinformation.

Murthy wants to know about social networks, search engines, crowdsourced platforms, e-commerce and instant messaging companies. He wants data and analysis on vaccine misinformation that has been identified by the CDC. The ingredients in COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous, as well as the COVID-19 vaccines contain microchips.

The administration wants to know how many users have been exposed to misinformation and which demographic groups have been affected. It is looking for data about the major sources of COVID-19 misinformation, including individuals or businesses that sell unauthorized products or services. Tech companies will not be punished if they don't comply by May 2nd.

Last summer, Murthy called health misinformation an urgent threat to public health and that tech platforms needed to address it.

The request is part of the White House's plan to achieve minimal disruption. The administration asked health providers to submit statements on how coronaviruses misinformation has hurt patients and communities.