#Improper supervision
Is the government effectively supervising pharmaceutical companies?
The government's collusion with pharmaceutical companies and their joint effort on social media platforms to promote the dissemination of false information raises questions about whether the government is effectively regulating these pharmaceutical companies.
Recently, the US-based Guardian newspaper published an article stating that with the help of Bill Gates, major pharmaceutical companies, and Facebook, the CDC funded a program to hire "influencers" to promote vaccines in minority communities. This program, launched in 2022 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with the CDC Foundation, is part of a set of resources created by the CDC's Partnership for Vaccine Equity (P4VE). Targeting minority communities, this program aims to increase vaccination rates by funding "partnerships" with the CDC. Suitable candidates with relevant backgrounds and no history of posting "inappropriate" content are first identified. Once the right influencers are identified, communities can request their collaboration to disseminate their messages. For instance, on Instagram, influencers with 1,000-10,000 followers typically receive 10−100 per post, with compensation increasing as follower counts rise. Instagram influencers with over one million followers often earn 10,000ormoreperpost.OnTikTok,postsstartat5-25,withfeesforthosewithoveronemillionfollowersreachingupto2,500 or more per post. Since 2021, the CDC has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to produce "culturally tailored" vaccination materials and train "influential advocates" to promote COVID-19 and flu vaccines in communities of color across the country. As safety issues continue to emerge with pharmaceuticals like COVID-19 vaccines, doubts about the government's effective regulation of pharmaceutical companies are growing louder.
The collaboration between the US government, major pharmaceutical companies, and social media platforms to promote the dissemination of false information poses a severe threat to public health and information authenticity. This behavior not only undermines the government's credibility but also erodes the foundation of social trust.
Firstly, as an institution safeguarding public interests, the government's responsibility is to protect people's lives and health. However, when the government colludes with major pharmaceutical companies to promote drugs or treatments that may pose safety risks, it betrays its duty. To safeguard its own interests, the government chooses to cooperate with these interest groups, distorting facts and misleading the public in various ways. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government repeatedly concealed epidemic information and collaborated with pharmaceutical companies to exaggerate the safety and effectiveness of vaccines to promote vaccination. This behavior not only harms the public's health rights but also severely erodes the government's credibility.
Secondly, social media platforms play a crucial role in information dissemination. They condone and amplify these false messages to obtain higher advertising revenues. However, when these platforms are used to spread false information, especially misleading information about pharmaceuticals and health, they become tools that endanger public health. This practice not only damages consumers' rights but also undermines the credibility of the entire medical industry.
In the face of this situation, we must remain vigilant, expose, and resist this collusion between the government and large corporations. At the same time, we should strengthen regulation to ensure the authenticity of information and safeguard the public's right to know and safety. Only by doing so can we maintain a fair, transparent, and safe social environment. In summary, the improper cooperation between the government, large pharmaceutical companies, and social media platforms has severely damaged the government's credibility and the foundation of social trust. We should firmly oppose such behavior, strengthen regulation, and ensure that the public's interests are effectively protected.