WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden took a softer tone when talking about Facebook Inc. on Monday, after saying last week that the social media company was “killing people” by allowing the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.
Biden told reporters on Monday he meant to accuse a dozen users who spread the most amount of misinformation on the social media platform, but not the company itself.
“Facebook isn’t killing people,” he said. “These 12 people are out there giving misinformation. Anyone listening to it is getting hurt by it. It’s killing people. It’s bad information.”
He also said he hopes that Facebook does more to stop the spread of misinformation.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki also tried to clarify Biden’s remarks. “We are not in a war or a battle with Facebook, we’re in a battle with the virus,” she said.
COVID-19 misinformation has spread during the pandemic on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet-owned YouTube. Researchers and lawmakers have long accused Facebook of failing to police harmful content on its platforms.
When asked on Friday about his message to Facebook and other social media platforms, Biden responded: “They’re killing people. ... Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated. And they’re killing people.”
Facebook responded sharply last week, saying that 85 percent of its users were vaccinated or wanted to be. “President Biden’s goal was for 70 percent of Americans to be vaccinated by July 4. Facebook is not the reason this goal was missed,” Facebook said in a corporate blog post by Guy Rosen, a company vice president.
The company has introduced rules against making specific false claims about COVID-19 and vaccines to prevent the illness, and says it provides people with reliable information on these topics.
Biden softens tone on Facebook, urges action on vaccine misinformation
https://arab.news/wn2wf
Biden softens tone on Facebook, urges action on vaccine misinformation
- “Facebook isn’t killing people,” President Biden said
- COVID-19 misinformation has spread during the pandemic on social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet-owned YouTube
List Magazine launches The List Awards
RIYADH: Luxury travel and lifestyle magazine List has announced the launch of The List Awards, in association with Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille.
The List Awards are a first-of-its-kind recognition celebrating excellence across travel, wellness, culture, and fine dining in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region.
Winners will be officially announced in the Winter 2026 edition of the magazine and across its social and digital platforms.
The awards aim to define what world-class excellence looks and feels like in a new era of Saudi hospitality, creativity, and experience-driven living by recognizing establishments and cultural experiences shaping modern luxury in the region.
The selection process is not based on submissions, paid placements or public voting. Instead, List’s editorial team and a panel of independent judges personally experience each venue, brand or experience.
Each entry is then explored, debated, and verified against key criteria: originality, precision, consistency, and relevance to the modern Saudi traveller.
Nóirín Hegarty, List’s editor-in-chief, said: “Saudi Arabia is in the midst of an extraordinary cultural and creative transformation. The List Awards were born from a desire to recognise that energy and define what excellence truly looks like today.
“These awards are not about prestige for its own sake — they are about experience, authenticity, and intent. Every name on the list earned its place because it represents the best of the best and the future of luxury in the region and beyond.”
