Oversight Democrats Call on Big Tech to Combat the Rampant Spread of Life-Threatening Abortion Misinformation and Disinformation

Washington, D.C. (December 7, 2023)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, led Committee Democrats in demanding Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk combat the rapid spread of abortion misinformation and disinformation on Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, and X.

"As the legal status of abortion changes across the country and a number of state legislatures impose drastic new restrictions on health care choices, people seeking information about abortion care and services turn to [Facebook, Instagram, and X] for accurate and reliable information—not propaganda. Yet individuals and groups that are anti-choice are promoting dangerously inaccurate medical information and false content about abortion online," wrote the Members in the letters.

This flood of abortion misinformation and disinformation seeks to discourage people from getting safe and effective abortion care and services, such as medication abortion, by offering them bad medical advice. As abortion misinformation and disinformation surge online, patients can come to doubt their health care institutions, their doctors, and themselves—putting their own health and safety at risk.

For example, Facebook, Instagram, and X are rife with posts and advertisements containing false information about dangerous "abortion pill reversal." Abortion pill reversal—administering high doses of the hormone progesterone after mifepristone, the first pill required for a medication abortion—is a disproven and dangerous medical procedure. Despite the science being clear about the dangers of abortion pill reversal, anti-abortion organizations continue to post inaccurate and misleading statements advocating for abortion pill reversal services and to post false and misleading medical testimonials from both providers and patients.

"To ensure that misinformation and disinformation does not further undermine the ability of people to obtain abortion care, we urge you to take immediate action to combat the spread of abortion misinformation on [your platforms] in all languages. Please also provide a briefing to Committee staff regarding the steps your company plans to take to address abortion misinformation," the Members concluded.

Click here to read the letter to Mr. Zuckerberg.

Click here to read the letter to Mr. Musk.

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