{"id":76173,"date":"2021-07-28T17:41:14","date_gmt":"2021-07-28T21:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=76173"},"modified":"2021-07-28T17:42:30","modified_gmt":"2021-07-28T21:42:30","slug":"cdc-coordinated-with-facebook-on-covid-messaging-and-misinformation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/?p=76173","title":{"rendered":"CDC Coordinated with Facebook On COVID Messaging and \u2018Misinformation\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>Judicial Watch: CDC Coordinated with Facebook On COVID Messaging and \u2018Misinformation\u2019; CDC Received Over $3.5 Million in Free Advertising from Social Media Companies<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><!--more--><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-76175\" src=\"http:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/JudicialWatch_Social_PressRelease-CDC_1200x627_v1-768x401-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/JudicialWatch_Social_PressRelease-CDC_1200x627_v1-768x401-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/JudicialWatch_Social_PressRelease-CDC_1200x627_v1-768x401-1-300x157.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Judicial Watch, Inc.<\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">(Washington, DC)\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">Judicial Watch announced today that it received\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"0\" data-ogsc=\"\">2,469 pages<\/a>\u00a0of new documents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which reveal that Facebook coordinated closely with the CDC to control the COVID narrative and \u201cmisinformation\u201d and that over $3.5 million in free advertising given to the CDC by social media companies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">These new documents were received in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (<i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/jw-v-hhs-cdc-social-media-complaint-00625\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"1\" data-ogsc=\"\">Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Health of Human Services<\/a><\/i>\u00a0(No. 1:21-cv-00625))\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/press-releases\/cdc-communications-big-tech\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"2\" data-ogsc=\"\">lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0for:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">Any and all records of communication between CDC officials and\/or employees and employees, agents, and\/or representatives of Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube concerning, regarding, or relating to COVID-19 related content on company platforms.\u00a0\u00a0Such records include, but are not limited to, any advice or instructions issued on disinformation re COVID-19. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">The documents show collusion between the CDC and Big Tech on Covid-19 message and misinformation:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-ogsb=\"white\">\n<li><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">In an email exchange beginning on January 26, 2020 with the subject, \u201cData for Good | CDC intros,\u201d a Facebook representative sends the \u201cFB coronavirus narrative\u201d to the CDC.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">It states the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pg-769\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"3\" data-ogsc=\"\">following<\/a>:<\/span><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">Facebook is taking a three pronged approached to the global response for the coronavirus:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">Limit misinformation and other harmful content on our platforms.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0Our third-party fact-checkers have been rating information on this topic as false, including the\u00a0<u>AP<\/u><b>,\u00a0<\/b><u>Politifact<\/u>,\u00a0<u>AFP Hong Kong<\/u>,\u00a0<u>Rapple IQ in the Philippines.<\/u>\u00a0As a result, we show people who come across that false content accurate information from our fact-checking partners and strong warning labels.\u00a0\u00a0We also send notifications to people who already shared this content alerting them that it\u2019s been fact checked.<\/span><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">Provide accurate and helpful information on our platforms t our partners.<\/span><\/b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0Partners are already using our platforms to share accurate information about the situation, including ono Pages.\u00a0\u00a0We have also provided ad credits to the World Health Organization and the Philippines\u2019 Department of Health to enable them to run coronavirus education campaigns on Facebook in-region, which we will continue to do.\u00a0\u00a0We\u2019re continuing to explore additional steps we can take, including dedicated information modules on relevant search queries and improved search ranking.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">Empower partners with data tools.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">We\u2019re sharing aggregated mobility data and high resolution density maps with various partners (e.g., National Tsinghua University (Taiwan); Harvard School oof Public Health) to help inform forecasting models for the spread of the virus as part of our broader\u00a0<u>Data for Good<\/u>\u00a0program.\u00a0\u00a0We\u2019re exploring doing this with a broader set of partners (e.g., WHO, US CDC) and also helping partners understand how people are talking about the issue online through tools like Crowdtangle to inform their efforts.\u00a0<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><b><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">This email exchange\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pgs-953-974\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"4\" data-ogsc=\"\">continues<\/a>\u00a0on showing more coordination on messaging between the CDC and Facebook.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-ogsb=\"white\">\n<li><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">The CDC was given over $3.5 million of free advertising on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">In a March 8, 2020\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pgs-35-36\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"5\" data-ogsc=\"\">email<\/a>, a Facebook representative\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pg-388\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"6\" data-ogsc=\"\">sends<\/a>\u00a0four ad credits totaling $2 million to the CDC for the purpose of supporting \u201cmessaging related to coronavirus.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">On March 14, 2020, then-CDC Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer Sherri Berger\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pg-248\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"7\" data-ogsc=\"\">emails<\/a>\u00a0Facebook to thank them for the $2 million.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\"><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u201cOn behalf of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and by the authority delegated to me through Section 231 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. Section 238), as amended, thank you for Facebook\u2019s non-monetary gift of advertising credited with an estimated value of $2,000,000.\u00a0\u00a0The gift will be used by CDC\u2019s COVID-19 response to support dissemination of critical public health messaging.\u00a0\u00a0Thank you!\u201d \u00a0<\/span><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul data-ogsb=\"white\">\n<li>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">In an email\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pg-246\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"8\" data-ogsc=\"\">exchange<\/a>\u00a0between August 10-11, 2020, the CDC\u2019s Sherri Berger emails Facebook again to thank them for another $1 million in ad credits with a similar message to that on March 14, except she adds:\u00a0<\/span><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">\u201cThis gift will be used by the CDC\u2019s COVID-19 response to distribute scientifically accurate data, guidance and risk communication information on COVID-19 to a broader audience.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><span data-ogsc=\"rgb(34, 34, 34)\" data-ogsb=\"white\">In an email\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pgs-411-412\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"9\" data-ogsc=\"\">exchange<\/a>\u00a0on August 25, 2020, Facebook makes CDC officials aware that of their recent gift of $1 million in ad credits, $529,207.42 remain. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>In a heavily redacted email\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pg-1761\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"10\" data-ogsc=\"\">exchange<\/a>\u00a0on March 17, 2020, a Twitter official offers the CDC advertising in the form of\u00a0Twitter\u2019s Promoted Trend and Promoted Spotlight Trend, which have approximate values given as $75,000 and $150,000.<\/li>\n<li>In an email\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pgs-2454-2462\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"11\" data-ogsc=\"\">exchange<\/a>\u00a0beginning March 16, 2020, a Google representative offers the CDC free video advertising on YouTube.\u00a0\u00a0In the exchange, they claim to not be able to assign a dollar value to this advertising.The CDC\u2019s official acceptance document for this advertising, which they value at $0, Sherri Berger\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/documents\/cdc-covid-big-tech-july-2021-pgs-2455-2455\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"12\" data-ogsc=\"\">states<\/a>:I understand that Google LLC may be a vendor and\/or lobbyist employed and that Google LLC\u2019s employees may be registered lobbyists.\u00a0\u00a0Providing the gift will not prevent Google LLC or its affiliates from supplying products of services to CDC in the future; CDC, however, is under no obligation to accept future services from Google LLC or its affiliates.<\/li>\n<li>In a February 27, 2020\u00a0email, a Facebook representative offers to put CDC officials in contact with WhatsApp in order to establish auto-responses to FAQs about coronavirus in that communications platform.\u00a0\u00a0<b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-ogsb=\"white\">\u201cThese documents show that Facebook and the CDC are joined at the hip on managing the ever-changing Covid-19 \u2018narrative\u2019 \u2013 which includes censorship of alleged \u2018misinformation\u2019,\u201d stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\" data-ogsb=\"white\">###<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\" data-ogsb=\"white\">___<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/press-releases\/cdc-facebook-covid-messagging\/\">https:\/\/www.judicialwatch.org\/press-releases\/cdc-facebook-covid-messagging\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judicial Watch: CDC Coordinated with Facebook On COVID Messaging and \u2018Misinformation\u2019; CDC Received Over $3.5 Million in Free Advertising from Social Media Companies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=76173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76173\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=76173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=76173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateofthenation.co\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=76173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}