Tech companies and the government have had a partnership over the last two years to censor covid ‘misinformation’.  In January, Biden demanded that tech companies do more to censor covid misinformation.  “I make a special appeal to social media companies and media outlets — please deal with the misinformation and disinformation that’s on your shows. It has to stop,” He said.

Now, his Surgeon General has demanded that tech companies provide information about people spreading covid misinformation and people who consume news sources that divert from the mainstream narrative.  The New York Times Reports–

 

 

“The notice asks the companies to submit “exactly how many users saw or may have been exposed to instances of Covid-19 misinformation,” as well as aggregate data on demographics that may have been disproportionately exposed to or affected by the misinformation.

The surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, also demanded information from the platforms about the major sources of Covid-19 misinformation, including those that engaged in the sale of unproven Covid-19 products, services, and treatments.

“Technology companies now have the opportunity to be open and transparent with the American people about the misinformation on their platforms,” Dr. Murthy said in an emailed statement. He added: “This is about protecting the nation’s health.”

Companies have until May 2 to submit the data. Denying requests for information does not carry a penalty, but the notice is the first formal request from the Biden administration of the tech companies to submit Covid-19 misinformation data, according to the surgeon general’s office.”

There is no direct penalty at this time for tech companies refusing to comply with the order, however Democrats have threatened to use anti trust laws to crack down on tech company ‘misinformation’ in the past.