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I truly think Starmers threat to criminalise antivaxxers who are spreading misinformation about covid will be detrimental and add fuel to their fires. criminalising conspiracy theories only makes the followers believe they are true and that they have 'uncovered something'.
instead of criminalising people who are looking for answers, take a look at how social media algorithms allow misinformation to be spread. and give scientists more power over the media coverage. lack of transparency is the reason these people are drawing inane conclusions.
if you dont fundamentally understand how capitalism works, and how the media and the government work to protect the system- of course you are vulnerable to falling for conspiracy theories. people are desperate and often unable to access political resources to make sense of this.
rather than criminalising them for not understanding, educate them and be honest about why covid has been allowed to spread like it has. this pandemic is a product of capitalism and its no wonder that people who don't understand how the system works cant see that.
of course the misinformation spread by antivaxxers is dangerous and has to be stopped. but criminalising it is not the move and will only serve to make them dig their heels in and believe they are a martyr to their movement.
