E-Wars

A newspaper survey was sent to more than 100 scientists; doctors and researchers. These individuals had all provided information on the Covid19 pandemic to the UK government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies or one of its linked panels. Nearly 50% responded (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/31/uk-governments-covid-advisers-enduring-tidal-waves-of-abuse). The responses revealed an 'appalling scale of abuse, intimidation and threatening behaviour' directed by people apparently unhappy with the government's responses to the pandemic. Some of the respondants had had:- coordinated online attacks directed towards them; death threats; images of their homes shared online; suspicious packages sent to their addresses; complaints about their behaviour directed to their employers/ the General Medical Council (the body that regulates doctors in the UK); offensive notes left on their cars and abuse, shouted through their home's letterbox. In some cases, an advisor's students, colleagues and family members (including their children) were also subjected to abuse. In one sad case, an advisor's child was repeatedly targeted by a teacher, who blamed the parent for Covid-related lockdowns. The family couldn't make a formal complaint about the teacher as, due to examination restrictions, that teacher determined their child's grade. These attacks on advisors and people around them are wholly unacceptable. Would people rather the politicians took their decisions in a state of ignorance? Scientists; doctors and researchers don't sign up for abuse. One senior scientist, Devi Sridhar (Chair of Public Health at Edinburgh University) provides a graphic account of his own experiences over the last 2 years. It is clear that it's almost impossible to fight misinformation online. An influencer, with thousands of followers, has more traction than any scientist who 'only' has his/her qualifications and track record. Lies flow through the metaverse in speedy chain reactions. It was claimed e.g. that Sridhar a) had published no papers and b) was a philosopher, rather than a 'real' scientist. The second claim was simply based on Sridhar's D.Phil. from Oxford University. The Twitterverse must also be very suspicious of any scientist with a Ph.D. Sridhar says that being a public health expert during the Covid19 pandemic has been "a disheartening experience". He didn't expect such a wave of misinformation, in a developed country, with an established and effective health service. He says "when the next pandemic comes, we must do better". Note that it's 'when' not 'if' the next pandemic comes!