Using media outlets, the left is spreading false COVID-19 research

How can one rationalize suppressing free speech and censoring opponents?

By using “science” as a justification.

In a new study published in the scientific journal Nature, the authors argue that “differential sharing of misinformation by people identifying with different political groups could lead to political asymmetries in enforcement, even by unbiased policies.”

In simple terms: Conservatives are subjected to more penalties by social media companies because they share more misinformation.

How did they come to this conclusion?

By evaluating various news outlets and then criticizing conservative users for sharing links to sites that the researchers themselves deemed as “low quality.”

The bottom line: Sanctions against right-wing speech are deemed justified.

Fact-checking scheme

There are some obvious flaws with this assertion.

According to the study, conservative-favored outlets like The Post and Fox News are considered of lower quality compared to The New York Times and CBS News because they are less likely to be fact-checked by biased fact-checkers who are often wrong themselves.

It’s a biased setup based on circular reasoning, not objective criteria.

Liberals confirming the reporting of other liberals does not prove the validity of that reporting; it only highlights the confirmation bias in this study.

Contrary to the authors’ assumptions, neither the right nor the left exclusively possess good or bad sources.

Even if one favors The Times over The Post (which is questionable), how does the study address instances where The Times spread misinformation, like accusing Sen. Tom Cotton of promoting a “fringe theory of coronavirus origins” or publishing controversial content like the 1619 Project?

The study fails to assess actual misinformation being disseminated and instead swiftly dismisses right-leaning media as a whole.

The issue is that this study, authored by researchers from liberal universities, may be used to validate the censoring of conservative media by social media platforms.

Google might block ads from these news sites, Facebook may restrict the sharing of articles from these publications, all while citing the approval of “Yale and Cornell researchers,” as justification.

Institutional betrayal

This specific attempt to leverage “science” for the benefit of Democrats is part of a bigger trend.

A functional democracy requires trustworthy institutions that offer accurate information and correctly apply the scientific method for the benefit of the entire public, rather than distorting it for political gain.

However, throughout American society, these institutions are failing to uphold public trust due to political motivations.

CNN Business employs a ludicrous “Fear & Greed Index” to undermine confidence in the free enterprise system.

Anthony Fauci, sounding more like Emperor Palpatine from “Star Wars,” claimed that “attacks on me are attacks on science,” blurring the lines between a public servant and a fictional character.

Many professional fact-checkers tend to skew in favor of Democrats, labeling their false claims as “mostly true” while undermining accurate claims from Republicans by claiming they lack “context.”

All of these attempts are essentially arguments from authority intended to bypass critical debates Americans want to engage in.

Like many forms of social media moderation, these efforts essentially tell dissenters to elite opinion to “Shut up!”

Pushing back

Thankfully, people are pushing back.

The left-wing establishment may believe they can manipulate their way to success with poorly constructed studies, flawed quantifications, and an abundance of erroneous fact-checks, but the public sees through these tactics.

Amidst the chaos of COVID, the cover-up of Joe Biden’s struggles, and the attempt to prop up Kamala Harris’ candidacy, their credibility has been eroded.

Despite efforts to fabricate statistical measurements, the left remains trapped in their own echo chamber, much like the one they criticize conservatives for being in.

The Nature study serves as a reminder, though not in the way its authors intended.

Progressives’ supposed commitment to truth is merely a façade to consolidate power.
Isaac Schorr is a staff writer at Mediaite.