Chapter 2: The Failure of Leadership to Respond to Information Warfare

TL;DR = The failure of institutions to defend against disinformation, combined with the government’s reluctance to pursue legal action or enforce laws already in existence who give these agencies the power and authority to hold those who spread disinformation accountable, has created an environment where right-wing extremists can spread COVID-19 disinformation with relatively few consequences. This not only endangers public health, but also erodes trust in critically important institutions such as medicine and health care, all with the end-goal of undermining the democratic processes. Addressing these institutional failures is crucial for effectively countering disinformation and protecting public discourse.

The leadership and administrative apparatus — from society wide at a governmental scale to across medicine including the institutional and organizational bodies of medicine — has failed to understand and push back against information warfare, or even support those who are trying to do so.

Institutional failures have played a critical role in enabling the spread and impact of COVID-19 disinformation by right-wing extremists:

1. Failure of Institutions to Defend Themselves and Supporters: Institutions, including government agencies, universities, and media outlets, often struggle to effectively counter disinformation campaigns. They may lack the agility, resources, or strategies needed to respond to the rapid spread of falsehoods and conspiracy theories. This failure to defend themselves and those who support evidence-based approaches to the pandemic leaves a vacuum that extremists…