Kate Starbird says attacks have made research difficult, and claims of bias arise because of prevalence of lies from the right

Kate Starbird says attacks have made research difficult, and claims of bias arise because of prevalence of lies from the right

A key researcher in the fight against election misinformation – who herself became the subject of an intensive misinformation campaign – has said her field gets accused of “bias” precisely because it’s now mainly rightwingers who spread the worst lies.

Kate Starbird, co-founder of the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, added that she feared that the entirely false story of rigged elections has now “sunk in” for many Americans on the right. “The idea that they’re already going to the polls with the belief that they’re being cheated means they’ll misinterpret everything they see through that lens,” she said.

Starbird’s group partnered with Stanford Internet Observatory on the Election Integrity Partnership ahead of the 2020 elections – a campaign during which a flood of misinformation swirled around the internet, with daily claims of unproven voter fraud.

Starbird and her team helped document that flood, and in return congressional Republicans and conservative attorneys attacked her research, alleging it amounted to censorship and violated the first amendment.

  • freeindv@monyet.cc
    135·
    10 months ago

    The loss of trust in the election system is not the fault of anyone but the public health apparatus that was used to change all the election rules last minute for no good reason. Just like how all the fascism we were subjected to in the name of covid rightfully lost people’s faith in most public institutions

    • SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world
      111·
      10 months ago

      Most reasonable people understood it was a reasonable response to a shitty circumstance.

      Ask Jewish people if they felt wearing masks and social distancing reminded them of the holocaust.

      • freeindv@monyet.cc
        127·
        10 months ago

        No, it was not reasonable. It was not backed by science, so what was the real reason?

        It doesn’t matter what race you are, all normal people oppose medical fascism

            • BluesF@lemmy.world
              91·
              10 months ago

              [Citation Needed]

              And in case you want one which does support the wearing of masks, here is a lengthy report with plenty of it’s own cited sources on all of the scientific reasons that masks were used to prevent the spread of COVID (note it’s a pdf not web page).

              There’s also evidence now that the use of masks was effective, so in addition to there having been good reasons to start using masks before, there’s now also scientific evidence that it worked. Here’s one study on the topic which states: “There was a significant decline in daily COVID-19 growth rate after the mandating of face covers in public, with the effect increasing over time after the orders were signed.”

              If you’re going to claim that something is unscientific, please back it up with something more than blind confidence.

              • freeindv@monyet.cc
                113·
                10 months ago

                No valid studies have shown mask mandates to be effective, but that’s not even the topic. There are zero studies showing any reasoning behind the changes done to election rules. None are backed by science, so what was the reason?

                • StorminNorman@lemmy.world
                  101·
                  10 months ago

                  You have literally been given a number of studies that show that masks are effective. Either shut the fuck up, or provide your own you giant moron… Oh, and no, saying “no valid studies” is not proof of anything. Nor is the YouTube video I just bet you’re itching to reply with. Peer reviewed studies, like the ones already provided. We’ll wait.

          • freeindv@monyet.cc
            122·
            10 months ago

            Not being able to go out in public. Censorship. Forced injection of drugs. Targeted forced shutdowns of businesses.

              • freeindv@monyet.cc
                120·
                10 months ago

                Did you hear about that lady who chose to have sex with he boss to keep her job? She has the audacity to cry rape and act like he forced her! We all know that NOBODY forced her to sleep with them and it was her choice

                  • freeindv@monyet.cc
                    116·
                    10 months ago

                    I’m glad you agree with me that she was not forced, there was no rape. She chose to sleep with her boss and she needs to stop complaining

                • StorminNorman@lemmy.world
                  42·
                  10 months ago

                  It’s 100% rape due to the power dynamic and she was literally doing it to keep her job. Sure, she may not have fought him off, but it’s still rape.

        • PLAVAT🧿S@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          61·
          10 months ago

          Agree, let’s stop all the medical fascism, women should have a right to choose what happens to their bodies, including abortion.

          And let’s agree these suggested laws preventing some folks (read: trans) from getting care are like actual death panels.

        • dtc@lemmy.world
          1·
          10 months ago

          Yes the fucking fascist pricks won’t even let me chain-smoke while I pump my gas! And since when is it ILLEGAL to drink MY booze in MY car while I’m driving home from my court appointed ANGER MANAGEMENT classes? Insane! You sheeple are the worst.