U.S. Surgeon General Calls For Big Tech, Government To Censor Joe Rogan
United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is calling for Joe Rogan's Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which averages 11 million listeners per episode, to be censored for "misinformation."
The Daily Wire reports that Murthy expressed a desire for the U.S. government and leading tech giants to have a hand in dictating content related to topics such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Appearing on MSNBC, the Biden appointee advocated for the stream of information to be curated by Big Tech.
“We can have the best science available, we can have the best public health expertise available. It won’t help people if they don’t have access to accurate information,” Murthy told MSNBC anchor Mika Brzezinski. “People have the right to make their own decisions, but they also have the right to have accurate information to make that decision with.”
Hosting pundits with a variety of opinions on subjects ranging from politics to medicine has drawn criticism for Rogan's platform. Fervor against the podcasting titan also stems from Rogan outpacing legacy media in popularity and winning the tug of war over COVID coverage.
Murthy considers Rogan a prime target for government surveillance and censorship, laundered through Big Tech.
“This not just about what the government can do,” he said, “this is about companies and individuals recognizing that the only way we get past misinformation is if we are careful about what we say and use the power that we have to limit the spread of misinformation.”
Murthy has been an ardent supporter of the OSHA federal vaccine mandate. When the Supreme Court voted to block the Biden-backed crackdown on unvaccinated employees, Murthy called the decision "a setback for public health."
On Wednesday, Spotify announced that singer Neil Young's catalog of music was getting removed from the streaming service after the performer set an ultimatum to nix Rogan's podcast over allegations of misinformation. The company made its decision clear by removing Young's music instead.
Follow along on Twitter: @AlejandroAveela