Former President Barack Obama said “people are dying” due to disinformation on social media, pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic, as he delivered remarks at Stanford University on the threats posed by disinformation. He spoke on the importance of free speech and the First Amendment, saying they can produce a healthier society, but that, “the First Amendment is a check on the power of the state. It doesn’t apply to private companies like Facebook or Twitter, any more than it applies to editorial decisions made by The New York Times or Fox News. It never has.” President Obama also addressed disinformation associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the repeated denial of the legitimacy of the 2020 election results by many Republicans.
