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.

  • SatansMaggotyCumFart
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    91 year 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
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      -251 year 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

        • @freeindv
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          -161 year ago

          It was not backed by actual science in any way

          • @BluesF@lemmy.world
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            71 year 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
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              -111 year 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
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                81 year 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.

                  • @StorminNorman@lemmy.world
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                    61 year ago

                    You were literally given scientific, peer reviewed studies that showed that they did limit the spread. You were also asked to prove your outlandish claim with similar, peer reviewed literature. But you can’t. That lack of support for your claim, and a complete inability to even criticise the actual evidence provided that shows your claim is bogus? Well, it all kinda indicates to me that I’ve met rocks who are smarter than you…

                  • SatansMaggotyCumFart
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                    51 year ago

                    Education does wonders to help prevent the spread of ignorance.

                    Maybe go on Facebook or Youtube comment and spread your message there?

        • @freeindv
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          -211 year ago

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

            • @freeindv
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              -181 year 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
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                  -151 year 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
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                21 year 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.

                • @freeindv
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                  -91 year ago

                  Exactly just like how people were forced to get the covid shots

                  • @StorminNorman@lemmy.world
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                    1 year ago

                    Right, so you’ve instantly just changed your opinion on whether it was rape or not. Says a lot about the strength of your convictions. And the fact that literally no-one was forced to have the vaccine sorta indicates to me that you’re just making shit up now. I mean, where did you pull that from? The vaccine wasn’t mandatory. Anywhere. Sure, there were activities you couldn’t participate in, and some countries implemented taxes for the unvaccinated etc, but you still had the choice.

                    Edit: read your profile. Ten years ago, I would’ve thought you’re a troll. Now I know you’re the kind of person who deserves to be punched in the face. Jan 6th was a peaceful protest? Since when do people die at peaceful protests…?

      • PLAVAT🧿S
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        51 year 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.

        • @freeindv
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          -61 year ago

          Yeah let’s do all that as well as ban lockdowns and vaccine mandates

          • PLAVAT🧿S
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            41 year ago

            I was obviously baiting here, and expecting a different response, so I can’t argue against your consistency…

      • dtc
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        01 year 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.