In a virtual World Meeting of Popular Movements during the weekend, Pope Francis called on tech companies to be more responsible about the spread of “misinformation.”
“The pandemic had laid bare the social inequalities that afflict our peoples,” the Pope stated. He added that “technology can be a tool for good,” but “in the name of God, I ask the technology giants to stop exploiting human weakness, people’s vulnerability, for the sake of profits without caring about the spread of hate speech, grooming, fake news, conspiracy theories, and political manipulation.
“In the name of God, I ask the telecommunications giants to ease access to educational material and connectivity for teachers via the internet so that poor children can be educated even under quarantine” he continued.
“In the name of God, I ask the media to stop the logic of post-truth, disinformation, defamation, slander and the unhealthy attraction to dirt and scandal, and to contribute to human fraternity and empathy with those who are most deeply damaged,” Francis added.
If the Pope really cares about the damage tech giants can do, he needs to urge them to stop their totalitarian suppression of wrongthink.