In recent weeks we have witnessed more and more cases in which "Pike News" is published on the subject of vaccines for Corona • We have examined with the experts how this can be fought
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Photography:
AFP
The phenomenon of publications of opponents of corona vaccines and vaccine opponents in general, has gained great interest in Israel in recent weeks, both following videos of people who oppose vaccines, and following the removal of a page of vaccine opponents on Facebook, a page that had about 15,000 members.
Immediately after downloading the page, a new page of vaccine opponents with 5,000 members appeared, and the number is only growing.
Ganz at a cabinet meeting: "Calls on people to get vaccinated so we can open up the economy" // Photo: Tal Oz, Ministry of Defense
Against this background we wanted to check with experts in public opinion and social networks what is the best way to deal with phenomena such as groups that oppose vaccines, which spread conspiratorial positions that can be called "false news" (Pike News).
"Deleting or marking pages is a mistake"
Dr. Hagit Sasson, a sociologist and internet and social researcher, believes that deleting pages or marking them as incorrect or controversial is a serious mistake. She says, "The best way to fight wrong positions is by serious advocacy and counter-investment in the field, in exactly the same social networks.
It is the most effective and correct tool for dealing with such directions. "
"On the other hand, when you delete the page, you make a greater desire of those who hold these views to publish their position, because you confirm with them the perception that the establishment against them is intentional and that there is a conspiracy, and they just work harder," Dr. Sasson said. "In other words, marking the page or deleting it does not achieve the right goal but achieves the opposite result - there is more noise around the stand, its supporters set up new pages and the deletion only confirms their claim that there is a mouthpiece and hide the truth."
"Therefore, all this approach of blocking, deleting, symbolizing, is not the right way to deal with this phenomenon, but the main thing is to explain in the same tools in detail, so that he who is undecided will open to serious opinions that answer all his questions. Of course we are not convinced. A case in point, but only effective advocacy will stop their impact on the undecided, "she said.
"Exercise enforcement powers"
Dr. Yaniv Levitan, an expert in cyber warfare and information warfare from the University of Haifa, believes that the only way to stop this phenomenon is to physically enforce the state against distributors of anti-vaccine positions and other unacceptable positions. "These are groups whose control of the digital medium is very good.
They have contingency plans for every reality that will block their pages, so the fight against them online is a fight against the wind. "
"Every page that closes will have a new page and so on, so the thought that they can be dealt with on the wrong network, they are good and very sophisticated in what they do, and they have existed on social networks for a long time. Therefore, they cannot be fought within this dimension."
"I also think propaganda is not enough here because it is nice, but it will not stop the activity that the state opposes. Therefore, in the case of vaccines for example, there is no choice but to really go and look for those who spread these theories and stop them by police. It will be effective enough, "he states.
"Act on all levels"
Dr. Harel Manshari, head of the cyber field at the Holon Institute of Technology HIT and former founder of the GSS 'cyber network, believes that action must be taken in a multidimensional way against the phenomenon so that we can stop it.
"First of all, this is a real problem and should be recognized as such. These people are active in Israel and around the world and in fact endanger the health of other people to the point of death."
He said it was not just a person who chooses not to get vaccinated that it is his right, but people who convince others and thus endanger their health: "Therefore one should also act with all one's might against social networks and all technological means, to constantly block these people. It should be consistent and state."
"Beyond that, there is a need for public information, as well as a demand for tests of corona antibodies for citizens. Beyond that, the legal and police system should be activated against these people under the Public Health and Safety Ordinances. Not to hide it but to actually sue for the damages to the state, "he added.
