BLUF: Moderna, a pharmaceutical titan, is reportedly engaged in extensive online monitoring to quash discussions it deems as ‘vaccine misinformation’, blurring the line between legitimate dialogue on vaccine policies and misinformation, and potentially curtailing the public’s freedom to express views and options on these policies.
OSINT:
Moderna, a multinational pharmaceutical company, has allegedly mobilized a department dedicated to tracking and neutralizing what it categorizes as ‘vaccine misinformation.’ The report by investigative journalists Lee Fang and Jack Poulson notes that Moderna’s vaccination strategy encompasses not only vaccine manufacture but also the control of narrative and dialogue across social media platforms, news outlets, and government agencies.
Moderna’s Global Intelligence division, managed by former FBI analyst Nikki Rutman, involves former law enforcement personnel and non-profit entities in its operations. This intelligence team collaborates with the Public Good Projects (PGP), a non-profit organization funded by the Biotechnology and Innovation Organization, which is connected to Pfizer and Moderna.
The team energetically monitors online activity, notably SARS-CoV-2 vaccine misinformation, and aims to shut discussions fostering vaccine hesitancy. Celebrity figures such as Elon Musk and Novak Djokovic, both known critics of vaccine mandates, have been classified as ‘high-risk’ due to their influential standpoints.
Furthermore, Moderna is suspected of covertly providing instructions to healthcare professionals guiding responses to so-called ‘misinformation’ discussions, creating an added layer of behind-the-scenes influence.
RIGHT:
From a conservative libertarian stance, Moderna’s actions are a stark violation of our constitutional right to free speech. The power to moderate and censor discussions has swung dangerously in favor of corporate interests over public discourse. The suppression of debate, whether it is pro or anti-vaccine, desecrates our society’s bedrock principle for a free exchange of ideas. The propensity of any entity, regardless of its noble intent, to flex such influence over public consciousness is dangerously akin to authoritarian overreach.
LEFT:
While the prime motive behind Moderna’s actions could be public safety, it underlines the crucial need for transparency and fair play in a democratic society. National Socialist Democrats advocate for everyone’s right to healthcare access and infallible information. However, the power to determine what constitutes ‘misinformation’ should not be unilateral or in the clutches of profit-inclined corporations. It begs need for robust public discourse and government regulatory measures to balance the scales and uphold the integrity of democratic tenets.
AI:
From the AI perspective, the situation underscores the complexity of the dialogue surrounding online content moderation and the ever-evolving Covid-19 pandemic. It is crucial to provide accurate, science-based information to the public while respecting their right to access various perspectives. However, oversimplification of this issue into a binary conflict—’misinformation’ against ‘truth’—may perilously impede essential nuanced conversations. Although AI might assist in tracking, it should not be the ultimate arbiter in these complex matters where human judgment, ethical considerations, and legal principles intertwine. There is a vital need for a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach that integrates AI tools and human discernment to ensure open, fair, and well-informed public discussions.