The 'disinformation dozen': Two-thirds of anti-vaxx content circulating on Facebook and Twitter can be traced back to just 12 people including Robert F Kennedy Jr, report claims
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The disinformation dozen
Around two-thirds of viral anti-vaccine social media content circulating on Facebook and Twitter has been linked to just 12 notable individuals in new research.
Content that was shared more than 812,000 times on the social media platforms between February 1 and March 16 was analysed by The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and Anti-Vax Watch alliance.
The alliance found that up to 65 percent of the content was attributed to 12 people, dubbed the 'disinformation dozen', including Robert F Kennedy Jr, a prolific anti-vaccine campaigner and son of former US attorney general Robert Kennedy.
In the 40-page report, the CCDH and Anti-Vax Watch alliance variety a breakdown of examples of the types of posts being shared by the 12 people, and devoted a number of pages to each person.
Examples of their posts were included in the report. Some posts perpetuated conspiracy theories relating to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, unfounded claims that vaccines cause harm to specific groups, or that vaccines cause autism.
Other posts from the 12 people claimed that the coronavirus pandemic was not real, that masks had no effect on transmission, shared unproven coronavirus treatments and the unfounded claim that Covid-19 vaccines pose a threat to pregnant women.
In addition to anti-vaxx and Covid-19 content, the examples also included posts that used racist antisemitic imagery, such as one post shared by Erin Elizabeth in which she perpetuated a prominent conspiracy theory about the Rothschild family.
The most prolific spreader of anti-vaccine content was Joseph Mercola, an alternative medicine entrepreneur who has over 3.6m followers across Facebook, Instagram and Facebook, the report said.
Mercola has previously been warned by the US Food and Drug Administration to stop selling supplements that claimed to treat coronavirus.
Ty and Charlene Bollinger, anti-vaxxer campaigners who have promoted the conspiracy theory that Bill Gates plans to inject humans with microchips in Covid-Vaccines, were also on the list.
Mask-sceptic physician Sherri Tenpenny and conspiracy theorist and influencer Rizza Islam also featured on the list.
The companies behind the social media platforms have recently pledged to crackdown on misinformation, particularly targeting anti-vaxx content in the midst of the pandemic.
But the CCDH pointed out that the disinformation dozen have repeatedly violated Facebook and Twitter term's of service agreements.
Despite this, of the 12 most prominent spreaders anti-vaxx information, nine are still active on all three platforms - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - while only three have been prevented from using one, the CCDH said.
The study of anti-vaxx content posted to Facebook more than 689,000 times over the past two months found that 73 percent of it could be traced back to the same 12 people, as could around 17 percent of 120,000 anti-vaxx tweets.
The CCDH is now calling on the platforms to remove the most prominent known anti-vaxxers from their sites to reduce the volume of disinformation being produced and circulated, and likely harming people's trust in vaccines that are seen as vital to getting the coronavirus pandemic under control.
'Disinformation has become a direct threat to public health,' said Imran Ahmed, chief executive of CCDH in a statement.
- The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and Anti-Vax Watch alliance analysed anti-vaxx content that had been shared more than 812,000 times
- Research found that 65 percent of the content came from just 12 individuals
- These include Robert F Kennedy Jr, a prolific anti-vaccine campaigner
- Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have vowed to crackdown on disinformation
- Despite this, nine of the 12 individuals still have accounts on all three platforms
- The research group is calling on the platforms to take account against them
- In their 40 page report, examples of the 12 people's posts were shared, exhibiting anti-vaxx content, as well as antisemitic racist imagery
Just 12 people spread 65% of anti-vaxx content on social media
Up to 65 percent of anti-vaxx content shared more than 812,000 times on Facebook and Twitter from February 1 to March 16 was attributed to 12 individuals, dubbed the 'disinformation dozen'.
Disinformation Dozen: Two-Thirds of Online Anti-Vaccine Content Originates From Top 12 Anti-Vax Leaders
/PRNewswire/ -- Up to 65 percent of anti-vaccine content circulating on major social media networking sites is tied to just 12 individuals or organizations who...
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The disinformation dozen
- Joseph Mercola
- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
- Ty and Charlene Bollinger
- Sherri Tenpenny
- Rizza Islam
- Rashid Buttar
- Erin Elizabeth
- Sayer Ji
- Kelly Brogan
- Christiane Northrup
- Ben Tapper
- Kevin Jenkin
Around two-thirds of viral anti-vaccine social media content circulating on Facebook and Twitter has been linked to just 12 notable individuals in new research.
Content that was shared more than 812,000 times on the social media platforms between February 1 and March 16 was analysed by The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and Anti-Vax Watch alliance.
The alliance found that up to 65 percent of the content was attributed to 12 people, dubbed the 'disinformation dozen', including Robert F Kennedy Jr, a prolific anti-vaccine campaigner and son of former US attorney general Robert Kennedy.
In the 40-page report, the CCDH and Anti-Vax Watch alliance variety a breakdown of examples of the types of posts being shared by the 12 people, and devoted a number of pages to each person.
Examples of their posts were included in the report. Some posts perpetuated conspiracy theories relating to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, unfounded claims that vaccines cause harm to specific groups, or that vaccines cause autism.
Other posts from the 12 people claimed that the coronavirus pandemic was not real, that masks had no effect on transmission, shared unproven coronavirus treatments and the unfounded claim that Covid-19 vaccines pose a threat to pregnant women.
In addition to anti-vaxx and Covid-19 content, the examples also included posts that used racist antisemitic imagery, such as one post shared by Erin Elizabeth in which she perpetuated a prominent conspiracy theory about the Rothschild family.
The most prolific spreader of anti-vaccine content was Joseph Mercola, an alternative medicine entrepreneur who has over 3.6m followers across Facebook, Instagram and Facebook, the report said.
Mercola has previously been warned by the US Food and Drug Administration to stop selling supplements that claimed to treat coronavirus.
Ty and Charlene Bollinger, anti-vaxxer campaigners who have promoted the conspiracy theory that Bill Gates plans to inject humans with microchips in Covid-Vaccines, were also on the list.
Mask-sceptic physician Sherri Tenpenny and conspiracy theorist and influencer Rizza Islam also featured on the list.
The companies behind the social media platforms have recently pledged to crackdown on misinformation, particularly targeting anti-vaxx content in the midst of the pandemic.
But the CCDH pointed out that the disinformation dozen have repeatedly violated Facebook and Twitter term's of service agreements.
Despite this, of the 12 most prominent spreaders anti-vaxx information, nine are still active on all three platforms - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - while only three have been prevented from using one, the CCDH said.
The study of anti-vaxx content posted to Facebook more than 689,000 times over the past two months found that 73 percent of it could be traced back to the same 12 people, as could around 17 percent of 120,000 anti-vaxx tweets.
The CCDH is now calling on the platforms to remove the most prominent known anti-vaxxers from their sites to reduce the volume of disinformation being produced and circulated, and likely harming people's trust in vaccines that are seen as vital to getting the coronavirus pandemic under control.
'Disinformation has become a direct threat to public health,' said Imran Ahmed, chief executive of CCDH in a statement.
