It was once said that New Zealand, oops I mean “Aotearoa”, was five years behind the United States. Now it seems that we’re in lockstep, and not in a good way.
In an event organised by Axios, titled “A conversation on battling misinformation”, White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy called on online platforms to “jump in” and fight misinformation and disinformation.
[…] “tech companies have to stop allowing specific individuals over and over again to spread disinformation”, McCarthy said. She also agreed when asked if misinformation threatens public health.
McCarthy was invited to the event to reassure people that President Joe Biden understands that “climate change presents an existential threat” and to promote the administration’s green energy initiatives.
“We have to get our act together as a country to recognize that clean energy is the solution,” McCarthy said.
[…] Last year, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the White House was flagging health misinformation for social media companies.
Think about this for a moment. If I post on social media that masks do more harm than good then, according to the White House National Climate Advisor, I should have my post removed. And if I post that we should be more concerned about China than climate change then I should have that post removed as well.
The justification for all this? The good old “existential threat” excuse.
Don’t think it will stop at posts being removed. I mean, if I say climate change is a con then I’m putting the whole planet at risk. If I say Covid vaccines cause more harm than good, well, I’m putting lives at risk. Given that, what’s not to justify me being put in jail or worse?
Just remember kids: words can harm and if you’re not careful you’ll be put on the naughty step.
