Censorship

Many autism parents have felt great frustration as the government seems to have little interest in pursuing why autism rates are rising rapidly, what causes autism, and what can be done to help those affected by autism. However, one Democratic congressman seems intent on making sure no one has access to information questioning potential connections to vaccines. Recently, U.S. Representative Adam B. Schiff from California sent open letters to the CEOs of Amazon, Facebook, and Google expressing his concern that these major Internet entities are promoting “products and content that discourage parents from vaccinating their children, a direct threat to public health.” [To read this letter, please click here.]

Describing these Internet sites as a “primary source of information” for many Americans, Congressman Schiff, indulging in hyperbole, urges these Internet companies to recognize their responsibility by not adding to this “growing public health catastrophe.” Apparently not trusting his constituents nor any other Americans to use critical judgment when seeking information online, Rep. Schiff wants to ensure any information contradicting the complete safety of vaccines is eliminated from Amazon and social media sites, including YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram, as well as Facebook and Google. He worries that “even parents and guardians who seek out accurate information about vaccines could unwittingly reach pages and videos with misinformation” and be unable to make decisions for themselves regarding vaccine safety. By presenting only one side of the issue, he hopes to make all parents compliant in vaccinating their children.

Jumping on the pro-vaccine bandwagon, CNN business writer Jon Sarlin posted an online article, “Anti-vaccination conspiracy theories thrive on Amazon,” on February 27, 2019. [To read this article, please click here.] Like the congressman, the writer indicates concern for those who may not be able to think for themselves and wants to limit the information to only one point of view. He states, “But perhaps more disturbing from a public health and misinformation perspective, there were also books [on Amazon] that people simply searching for information––new parents, for instance––could mistake for something offering neutral information accepted by the public health community…” However, insisting upon banning books sets a dangerous precedent for our society.

Not surprisingly, when Amazon removed anti-vaccine documentaries from its streaming service, Amazon Prime Video, CNN gleefully reported this news and seemed to take part of the credit for this act of censorship. On March 1, 2019, Jon Sarlin wrote another article, “Anti-vaccine movies disappear from Amazon after CNN Business Report.” [To read this article, please click here.] While the reporter was pleased that Amazon had removed these videos, he expressed concern that Amazon continues to sell books offering an alternative position.

According to CNN, a Facebook spokesperson explained that they have “taken steps to reduce the distribution of health-related misinformation on Facebook, but we know we have more to do. We’re currently working with outside experts on additional changes that we’ll be announcing soon.” One wonders what constitutes “health-related misinformation” and what medical training these “outside experts” have. In a more decisive action to limit point of view, Pinterest announced a temporary ban to block all vaccine searches. Clearly, social media is acceding to the pressure put to bear by those who want only pro-vaccine perspective presented.

In another online article posted March 7, 2019, Wired describes changes Facebook will make. [To read this article, please click here.] In “Facebook Will Crack Down on Anti-Vaccine Content,” Louise Matsakis explains that Facebook has announced that they will no longer promote anti-vaccine information through ads or recommendations. Furthermore, they will make this topic less prominent in search results and news feeds, reducing the rankings of pages and groups that “spread misinformation about vaccines.” In addition, Facebook is examining ways to provide information from “expert organizations” regarding vaccines.  Similarly, Instagram will not recommend content or hashtag search results they deem as “vaccine misinformation.” This suppression of information should be worrisome to those who value critical thinking. As novelist George Orwell predicted, through government officials, the mainstream media, and social media that want to dictate what is “misinformation” and what is not, “Big Brother is watching you.”

To give Rep. Schiff his due, he probably has good intentions and believes that he is protecting those he deems not able to think for themselves. In his press release regarding his letters to the social media giants, he strongly asserts his faith in vaccines: “The scientific and medical communities are in overwhelming consensus that vaccines are both effective and safe. There is no evidence to suggest that vaccines cause life-threatening or disabling diseases, and the dissemination of unfounded and debunked theories about the dangers of vaccines pose [sic] a great risk to public health.”

However, Rep. Schiff apparently has not read the information on the government’s own Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, or he would realize that evidence indicates the potential for vaccine harm. [To access this site, please click here.] Specifically, the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine can cause “deafness, long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness, and brain damage.” The Varicella (Chickenpox) vaccine can cause “infection of lungs (pneumonia) or the brain and spinal cord coverings (meningitis).” The DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis) vaccine can cause “non-stop crying, for 3 hours or more (up to about 1 child out of 1,000)”; “seizure (about 1 child out of 14,000)”; and ‘high fever, over 105 degrees F (about 1 child out of 16,000).” In addition, the CDC site warns of the potential side effects with any vaccine: “As with any medicine, there’s a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.” Clearly, vaccines are not as safe as Rep. Schiff and the media would like everyone to believe. Parents should be aware of potential risks––no matter what they are––before they vaccinate their children.

One even wonders why the media wants to remove the alternative views. In the Wired article, the writer cited information in The Atlantic that noted the “majority of anti-vaccination content on Facebook appears to originate from only a handful of fringe sources.” While I question that assessment, if they believe this to be true, they should have nothing to fear from a few they deem as unreliable sources. Moreover, despite Rep. Schiff’s concerns that anti-vaccine information is leading to a “growing public health catastrophe,” there appears to be no evidence of this impact.

As Louise Matsakis notes in the Wired article, “It’s not yet clear whether the proliferation of anti-vaccination content online has led to a significant decrease in vaccination rates in the United States.” Specifically, she cites CDC data that shows that the number of children under the age of three who have received the first dose of the MMR vaccine “has remained steady for years.” If, indeed, those anti-vaccine views essentially have no effect, why must they be silenced?

Until a definitive cause has been established for autism, nothing should be ruled out completely. In order to make informed decisions, we must have all the information, not just what politicians and the media have determined that people in our free society can know. We must have access to many viewpoints without censorship and continue to seek the truth. As Jesus said in John 8:32, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it.” Isaiah 32:3