And we think that is something that unquestionably should be the basis of how people are communicating about it.īut, ultimately, you know, our view is it’s a - it’s a - it’s a good step, it’s a positive step, but there’s more that can be done.” I mean, look at the facts, right? You are 16 times more likely to be hospitalized if you’re unvaccinated and 68 times more likely to die than someone who is boosted if you’re unvaccinated. But we want every platform to continue doing more to call out misinform- mis- and disinformation while also uplifting accurate information. So, this disclaimer - it’s a positive step. So our hope is that all major tech platforms - and all major news sources, for that matter - be responsible and be vigilant to ensure the American people have access to accurate information on something as significant as COVID-19. And amid that, he talked about the role social media platforms have. Well, last July, I - you probably know, but the Surgeon General also took the unprecedented step to issue an advisory on the risk of misinformation and public health, which is a very significant step. You know, there’s more research you can look at - you know, scientific research regarding COVID”? Does the White House and the administration think this is a satisfactory step? Or do you - do you think that companies like Spotify should go further than just, you know, putting a label on there to say, “Hey, go do your own - you know, check this out. Spotify is putting out advisory warnings on episodes that have to do with COVID-19. And he said that tech companies have an “important role to play” in stopping misinformation because he - they are the “predominant places” where misinformation spreads. Last week, the Surgeon General also was asked on MSNBC about Joe Rogan’s vaccine comments on Spotify. “Ultimately our view is that it’s a good step, it’s a positive step, but there’s more that can be done,” said the press secretary.įrom the “words mean things” desk, here is what she actually said: Ms Psaki said that it was the responsibility of all companies and particularly that of those platforms where Americans get their news to “be responsible and be vigilant to ensure the American people have accurate information about something as significant as Covid-19. She responded that the change was a good step, but that the company could take steps (if it wanted) to actively prohibit content that contained misinformation that experts have warned is prolonging the pandemic and leading to more deaths. White House press secretary Jen Psaki called on music and podcast streaming giant Spotify to do “more” in the fight against Covid-19 misinformation on Tuesday.Īt her daily press briefing, President Joe Biden’s top spokeswoman was asked about a decision by the company to add disclaimers linking to Covid-19 information hubs to any piece of content that includes discussion of the pandemic, vaccines, or Covid-19 itself.