The Trusted News Initiative (TNI), established in 2019 with support from major tech and media companies, originally aimed to protect US elections from foreign interference but has since broadened its scope to combat "anti-vaccine" narratives online through algorithms and fact-checkers.
However, critics argue that TNI's approach leads to censorship and suppression of dissenting voices, including scientists and healthcare providers, fostering societal division and stifling open dialogue.
TNI's funding, partly from taxpayers and influenced by pharmaceutical companies, raises concerns about independence and motives, prompting advocacy for alternative independent media outlets to provide unbiased perspectives and counter TNI's controlled narrative.
Founded in 2019 to promote freedom of democracy and prevent foreign interference in US elections. Includes major companies like Google, Facebook, BBC, YouTube, Twitter, New York Times, Microsoft, and Reuters.
https://bbc.com/mediacentre/2020/trusted-news-initiative-vaccine-disinformation
Mainstream Media Organizations:
Owned by the six major conglomerates: Time Warner, Viacom, CBS, Disney, National Amusements, and News Corp.
Examples include PBS, CNN, Fox News, NBC, CBS, USA Today, Washington Post, and others.
Purpose of TNI:
Initially introduced to safeguard the 2020 election from foreign interference.
Expanded to tackle "anti-vaccine" narratives on the internet using algorithms and fact-checkers.
Algorithms and Fact-Checkers:
TNI utilizes algorithms to monitor and regulate online content, aiming to suppress information that contradicts their preferred narratives.
Fact-checkers are employed to counter information deemed "disinformation" by the TNI.
Censorship and Control:
Information deemed contrary to TNI's narrative is suppressed and neutralized.
Individuals, including scientists, healthcare providers, and academics, who dissent from the TNI narrative are discredited, doxxed, and deplatformed from social media.
Public Perception and Division:
TNI's efforts create a "virtue signaling" environment where people are conditioned to trust mainstream media and view dissenting voices as wrong or harmful.
This contributes to societal division and a lack of open dialogue.
Funding and Influence:
TNI is partially funded by taxpayers through government channels.
Pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in TNI to promote their narratives, as they have a financial stake in the pharmaceutical industry.
Alternative Independent Media:
Encouraged as a solution to counter the TNI's controlled narrative.
Independent media outlets offer unbiased content and diverse perspectives.