PERMANENT SELECT romgeoseomeconont ADAM B. SCHIFF February 14,2019 Mark Zackerborg CChuieman and Chet Executive Ofkcer Facebook ine Hacker Way Menlo Park, CA 94025, Dear, Mr Zuckerberg: ‘As more Americans use the Internet nd social media platforms as their primary soueeof information, it {important that we explore the quality ofthe infoematon tat hey receive, particularly sss that iret impact th health and wellbeing of American, a well athe billons who use your site aroand the wor Aevonlingly, Fats writing ou uy concer at Facebook sd saga emg recommending messages that disccurage prenis fom vaccinating their chilen direct tet to public health, an reversing progres madi okling vaccine-preventable diseases, “The seienific and medical communities ar in overwhelming consenss tht vaccines are both effesive and safe. Thr is no evidence to seagest that vaceines cause Hifeshreatening or disabling dseses, and {the dissemination of unfounded and debunked theares abot the dangers of vaccinations pose apres isk to public health tn fact the World Health Organization listed vaccine hesitaney ~ the reucance ce ‘refs fo vaccinate despite the avalabily of vaceines~as oe ofthe top treats o global health ia 2019. Ina dramate demonstration af the dangers, Washington ste declared pblic heats emergency ‘ue toa measles epidemic in Clark County, signaling the resurgence of potentially fatal disease that was fective eliminated from the Unted Sats desades ago by vacsines, ‘Thee i srong evidence to suggest that atleast part ofthe source of this end is the degree to which ‘medially inaceurate information spout vaczines surface on the websites where many Americans get theit ‘information, among them Facebook and Instagram. As have discussed wit you in ter context, and as you have sckrowedged, the algorithms which power thse services are not designed to distinguish ‘ual information from misinformation or misleading information, and the consequences of ht ae aricularly troubling for public hah sues. acknowledge that i ay nt always bea simple mateo ‘eterine when infomation meically aecurte, nor do we ask that yur platform engage inthe practice of medicine, but ia concerned parent consistently ses information in thet Newsfeed tha casts doubt onthe safety or iacy of vielnes, could ease the to disregard the advice of thei chiens physicians and publi heath expers and dese 1o follow the recommended vacintion schedule Reptiion oF information, even i ils, can fen be mistaken for acturcy, and exposure to at-vaecine content va soial media ay negatively shape user titdes towards vacination. ‘Additionally even parents ad guardians who seck out accurate information about vaccines cold ‘unwitingly reach pages and videos with misinformation. A report by the Gurdan Found that on bath Facebook and YouTube, suggested searches related to vaccines often led users to pages or rOuPS [Wns hau omf2019 t-shirtsproviding medical 1am concerned by the ep tht Facebook accepts pid advertising ha contains deliberate misinformation about vaccines. ‘Aza Member of Congress who i deeply concerned about delining vaccination rates sround the ation, 1 ‘am requesting adéitional n’nmacion on the steps that you curently take to provide medically accurate Information on vaciations to your ses, do encourage yout consider addtional steps You san tke ‘o addes this growing problem. Iwas pleased to se VouTbe's recent announcement that it wil n> loge recommend videos ha volte tscommuaiy guidelines, such ax conspiracy theories or medially Jnaseurte videos and encourage furhe action wo be taken related to vaccine misinformation, Specifically, Lrequest that Jou provide answers on the following questions ‘+ Does content hist provides matically inaccurate information abou vaccines violate you tens of service? + What ttion(s) do you curently take acess misinformation related to vaccines on your platforms? Are youconsiderng or aking additional ations? + Doyou accept paid advertising from ants-vaccine stv and groups on your platforms? How much has ben spe in the past year on advertising on this op? + What steps do you curently take to prevent ant-vacine videos or information fom being recommended to uss, ether algordunially or asa suggested search esl? {approvate your Gnely sesame to ee yuri al ensage yo sane a oil eye you can ake to adres this growing problem. As more American ely on your services as their mary Source of information itis ial that yu take that responsiblity with the seriousness it requires, end owhere moreso than in matrs of publi health and children's heath, Thankyou for your aetion to this important topic. Sincerely, Member of Congress