For years on end, complaints have been growing about online censorship that’s all too often directed toward conservatives and right-wing social media users. Often, this censorship happens under the guise of rooting out so-called “misinformation.”
Unfortunately, much of what’s often been deemed as “misinformation” has later been proven as factual. One example is the efficacy of the COVID vaccines.
For a while, people who said these vaccines wouldn’t prevent anyone from getting sick or giving someone else COVID were accused of spreading “misinformation.”
It’s since come out that these vaccines aren’t, in fact, a guarantee that someone will be safe and sound from COVID infection.
However, this doesn’t mean censorship is coming to an end. As documented by Newsmax, Google recently confirmed it’s going to take some steps to combat so-called “misinformation” that it deems to be “harmful.”
A Closer Look at Google’s New Action Plan
The steps that Google’s putting into place will apply not just to its search engine, but also to YouTube.
With the midterm elections coming up, Google confirmed on Friday that when people search for information about November’s elections, what’s going to pop up will be details from outlets like NBC, the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, etc.
This will also apply to the algorithms that recommend certain content to users viewing midterms-related subjects.
The Biden administration coordinated with Google, Facebook and Twitter in order to censor “misinformation” about covid and vaccines.
But these are just private companies and it’s MAGA Republicans who are semi-fascists. pic.twitter.com/dJHSed4JU7
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 1, 2022
When Americans use Google and YouTube, sources that these platforms deem to be “misinformation” will come with various warning labels and be further pushed down by the algorithms.
Finally, Google revealed that local election details and voter registration information will be more readily available to users who are viewing information about the midterm races.
A Concerning Announcement
To this day, many Americans are worried about the ramifications that will come from how Google and YouTube control the information that individuals have access to.
Accusing people of spreading “misinformation” has become an often politically-charged tactic. Therefore, it blurs the lines of how reliable social media companies are when they, too, claim to be fighting back against “misinformation.”
This is especially relevant, given that some claims which were previously deemed as “misinformation” were later walked back to be acknowledged as truthful and factual.
BREAKING REPORT: YouTube REVERSES IT'S COVID-19 MEDICAL MISINFORMATION POLICY, removes BAN on Disputing Masks Ability to PREVENT the virus…
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) August 25, 2022
It also doesn’t help matters to learn the White House has been in the ear of various social media companies, pressing them to take down what Biden doesn’t care for.
Some Americans are now beginning to wonder how big a role this administration may have in controlling the information that people have access to, ahead of these critical races in November.
Are you concerned about the measures Google claims it will employ in the spirit of fighting what it deems to be “misinformation?” In the comments section, you’re more than welcome to let us know.
This article appeared in Watch Dog News and has been published here with permission.
