In a significant shift towards media accountability, major outlets are correcting their coverage of the so-called "Disinformation Dozen," exposing flaws in a widely circulated censorship campaign.

In a significant development in the ongoing "Disinformation Dozen" controversy, The Guardian has become the latest major media outlet to address inaccuracies in its reporting on the subject. This move adds to a growing list of media organizations taking steps to correct their coverage based on the disputed Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) report.

The Guardian's readers' editor, Elisabeth Ribbans, has added a footnote to their July 17, 2021 article titled "Majority of Covid misinformation came from 12 people, report finds."¹ This update reflects Facebook's (now Meta) August 2021 statement disputing the methodology and findings of the CCDH report that originally made the "Disinformation Dozen" claim.²

Key points of this latest development:

1. Acknowledgment of Dispute: The Guardian's footnote now informs readers about Meta's challenge to the CCDH report's claims.
2. Clarification of Data: While not fully retracting the original story, The Guardian's update helps provide readers with a more balanced view of the controversy.
3. Ongoing Dialogue: This action came after correspondence between Sayer Ji, one of the named individuals, and The Guardian's editorial team, highlighting the importance of continued advocacy for accurate reporting.
4. Part of a Larger Trend: The Guardian's move aligns with a growing recognition among major media outlets of the need to revisit and correct their coverage of the "Disinformation Dozen" story.

The Scope of the Issue:

The impact of the original CCDH report was far-reaching. At its peak, a search for "Disinformation Dozen" yielded approximately 84,000 results on Google, demonstrating the extensive spread of this narrative across media platforms. This vast number of search results underscores the potential for widespread reputational damage to the individuals named and the urgent need for corrections.

Meta's Contradictory Data:

The correction trend began when Meta revealed that the individuals named in the CCDH report were actually responsible for only about 0.05% of all views of vaccine-related content on Facebook, not the 65% claimed by the CCDH. This 1,300-fold discrepancy has led to a reassessment of the narrative surrounding vaccine-related content on social media platforms.

Growing List of Media Corrections:

The Guardian joins several other prominent media outlets and institutions in correcting their coverage:

1. The Independent: Added an update to their May 17, 2021 article, broadly stating Meta's objections to the CCDH study.³
2. Forbes: Updated their December 10, 2021 article, referencing Meta's statement and the report's response.⁴
3. McGill University: Added a pinned comment to their YouTube video from March 10, 2022, mentioning Meta's dispute of the CCDH report's validity.⁵
4. The Guardian: Now includes a footnote in their July 17, 2021 article reflecting Meta's challenge to the CCDH report's claims.⁶

Ongoing Challenges:

Despite these corrections, challenges remain. Some outlets and organizations, including Men's Health and the CCDH itself, continue to perpetuate the original, debunked claims. This ongoing misinformation underscores the need for continued vigilance and advocacy for accurate reporting.

The Guardian's action, along with those of other major outlets, represents a significant step towards vindication for the individuals named in the "Disinformation Dozen" report. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of fact-checking, the potential consequences of rushed judgments based on sensational claims, and the power of persistent advocacy for truth in media.

As this story continues to unfold, it highlights the crucial role of media accountability in shaping public discourse on complex issues surrounding public health, free speech, and social media. The willingness of these outlets to revise their reporting demonstrates a commitment to journalistic integrity that should be both commended and encouraged across the media landscape.

The journey towards full correction of the record is ongoing, with several dozen other media outlets being contacted for similar corrections. This coordinated effort aims to ensure that the public receives accurate information and that the reputational damage caused by the flawed CCDH report is addressed comprehensively.

References

1. Elisabeth Ribbans, email message to Sayer Ji, September 17, 2024.

2. Monika Bickert, "How We're Taking Action Against Vaccine Misinformation Superspreaders," Meta (blog), August 18, 2021, https://about.fb.com/news/2021/08/taking-action-against-vaccine-misinformation-superspreaders/.

3. Richard Best, email message to Sayer Ji, August 7, 2024.

4. Melissa Delaney, email message to Sayer Ji, August 28, 2024.

5. Jonathan Jarry, email message to Sayer Ji, August 6, 2024.

6. Elisabeth Ribbans, email message to Sayer Ji, September 17, 2024.