Messaging Apps to go under Scrutiny for Spanish Disinformation
Democrats are pushing for measures in Congress to address the spread of Spanish-language disinformation on messaging apps. Concerns arise due to its unchecked nature, prolonged impact, and targeting of a highly online population. Latino communities face misinformation risks, with a significant portion receiving incorrect information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Lawmakers emphasize the need for fact-checking access, culturally-aware staff, and strategies to tackle this issue without compromising user privacy or private communication integrity.
Democrats are pushing an initiative in the United States Congress to combat the spread of Spanish-language disinformation in messaging apps. Spanish-language disinformation has raised concerns as it seems more pervasive because it goes unchecked longer and targets a population that tends to be online more. According to a 2021 poll, Latino respondents whose primary language spoken at home is Spanish, 66% received wrong or harmful information about the coronavirus vaccine through messaging apps. Lawmakers suggested that companies should increase access to fact-checking organizations across languages, and hire staff who have the “necessary cultural context” to address Spanish-language disinformation. They also stressed that the messaging apps do not have to compromise user privacy or the integrity of private communication when addressing the spread of Spanish-language disinformation.