When Biden was asked if there was information about platforms such as Facebook, which spread false or misleading information about the coronavirus vaccine on these platforms, he told reporters, “They are killing people.”

“Our only epidemic is people who have not been vaccinated,” he said.

Murthy said in a speech on Thursday that misinformation about COVID-19 is fatal and is regarded as an “information epidemic” by the World Health Organization.

“Misinformation poses an imminent potential threat to our country’s health,” Morty said in a speech at the White House on Thursday. “As a country, we must face misinformation. Life depends on it.”

Given the role of the Internet in disseminating health misinformation, Murthy stated that technology companies and social media platforms must make meaningful changes to their products and software to reduce the spread of false information while increasing access to authoritative, fact-based sources.

He said that these platforms are often built in a way that encourages rather than resists the spread of misinformation.

“We ask them to step up their efforts,” Murthy said. “We can no longer wait for them to take positive action.”

Facebook spokesperson Dani Lever responded: “We will not be distracted by allegations that are not supported by facts. The truth is that more than 2 billion people have viewed authoritative information on COVID-19 and vaccines on Facebook, more than anyone else. “Other places on the Internet. More than 3.3 million Americans also use our vaccine finder tool to find where and how to get a vaccine. The facts show that Facebook is helping to save lives. period. “

Twitter posted on its platform: “As the COVID-19 pandemic develops worldwide, we will continue to do our part to improve authoritative health information.”