FEATURED ISSUE
Online data censorship vs. free speech
Because about 85% of the American public use online sources when looking up health options, it is concerning when it appears that there has been repression of valid health data as “disinformation.” This year (2023) the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and the European Union all made news with new laws and court rulings related to influencing and regulating of online information sources and social media. These changes are being critiqued for possibly trending toward our loss of freedom of speech and full access to valid health information.

8/25/23: The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) went into effect requiring online companies (with over 45 million monthly users in the EU) to actively police their online and social media platforms.

9/8/23: The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld part of a lower court’s injunction banning the White House, Surgeon General, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from influencing social media companies to remove “disinformation,” but left other federal agencies open to continue their censorship activities.

Note that the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated that during the court docket for 2023-24 term it will consider arguments as to whether social media content-moderation restrictions and individualized explanation requirements violate the Constitution.

9/19/23: United Kingdom (U.K.) passed the “Online Safety Bill,” a new law to regulate online content. The bill is presented as taking a zero-tolerance approach to protecting children and making sure social media platforms are held responsible for the content they host.

9/29/23: The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced that all online streaming services that offer podcasts must register and conform to regulatory controls. This is advancing its regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework and ensure that online streaming services make meaningful contributions to Canadian and Indigenous content.

If you are someone who relies on online information sources for keeping up with health information, the information given above can serve as an alert for you to pay attention to what is happening in North America, United Kingdom, and the European Union. Note that the World Health Organization (WHO) is collecting power to make the final decision.

ISSUE: Have you experienced what appeared to be repression of valid online health information?

AHHA strives to maintain a neutral position and views knowledge as power. For those interested in this month’s Issue, the following articles have been selected so that you can be aware of details about what is happening in the U.S. and countries impacting the U.S. You are encouraged to delve deeper and expand your knowledge of this matter using these articles as a springboard.

The EU’s Digital Services Act goes into effect today: here’s what that means (8/25/23)
The Verge

Appeals court slaps Biden administration for contact with social media companies (9/8/23)
by Shannon Bond, Natalie Escobar
NPR (National Public Radio)

Justices take major Florida and Texas social media cases (9/29/23)
by Amy L. Howe
Howe on the Court

Britain makes internet safer, as Online Safety Bill finished and ready to become law (9/19/23)
Gov.UK

CRTC takes major step forward to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework (8/29/23)
Government of Canada

Information Compliance — Bill Passed to Demolish Free Speech (10/11/23)
by Joseph Mercola, DO
Mercola

Global principles for identifying credible health information on social media
World Health Organization

You are also encouraged to go to our blog at ahha.org/blog and post your comments.