It’s no secret that tech giants like Twitter have been accused of censorship, but the latest example takes the cake. Recently, a Stanford doctor's opinion on Covid-19 was censored by a former Twitter official, prompting a GOP rep to ask “where’d you go to medical school?”
The Stanford Doc and His Censored Opinions
Stanford doctor John Ioannidis has been vocal about his views on Covid-19. He believes that the virus is not as deadly as originally thought, and that lockdowns are not the best way to combat it. While Ioannidis' views are controversial, they deserve to be heard — but this was not the case when a former Twitter official stepped in.
Recently, the Stanford professor attempted to post his opinion on his Twitter account. However, his message was blocked and taken down by Yoel Roth, a former Twitter official, on the grounds of “misinformation”.
GOP Rep Asks “Where’d You Go to Medical School?”
In response to this incident, Republican Rep. Jim Banks tweeted his own criticism of Roth’s decision. Banks asked “Where’d you go to medical school?”, citing Roth’s lack of medical expertise as a reason for him to not be the one to decide what is and isn’t misinformation.
This sentiment was echoed by Ioannidis himself, who commented on the incident by saying “This is a perfect example of how we are not living in an evidence-based world.”
The Debate over Censorship
The incident has sparked a debate over censorship and free speech. On the one hand, it is understandable that tech companies would want to protect users from false information. On the other hand, however, it is also important to allow for open discussion and debate.
Ultimately, it is up to tech companies to decide how they will deal with censorship. However, it is clear that this particular incident has highlighted the need for more transparency and accountability when it comes to censoring content.
Conclusion
The recent incident involving a Stanford doctor and a former Twitter official has sparked a debate over censorship and free speech. It has highlighted the need for tech companies to be more transparent and accountable when it comes to censoring content. In the end, it is up to companies like Twitter to decide how they will deal with censorship.
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