Calls for ban on 'anti-vax' social media - News Review

With news that a Covid-19 vaccine is being trialled, people who are against vaccines have been posting negative comments on social media. There have been calls for bans on these types of posts.

Tom and Neil have the vocabulary you need to talk about this story.

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Video chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
0:43 - Story
2:21 - Headline 1: Covid-19: Call to outlaw 'anti-vax' fake news
5:40- Headline 2: Calls for ‘nonsensical and dangerous’ anti-vax content to be censored online
8:16 - Headline 3: Anti-vax conspiracy theories are still being peddled on social media despite tech companies promising crackdown
10:35 - Language summary

The story

The government has taken steps to address this. It came to an agreement with the big online tech companies, Facebook, Twitter, Google and others, last week to take steps to work with public health authorities.

But Labour say that if anyone is persuaded, even one person, not to have the vaccine as a result of misinformation then that is one person too many and this is a matter of life and death.

Key words and phrases

outlaw
make illegal or ban

The government has promised a bill to outlaw hate speech on social media.
Drink-driving has been outlawed in the UK since the 1960s.

nonsensical
stupid or silly

The angry Twitter rant contained several nonsensical claims.
The jury found the defendant’s claims to be completely nonsensical.

peddled
spread as an idea in order to cause acceptance

Critics say that misinformation is being peddled through the platform.
The programme was known to peddle celebrity gossip and rumours.

For a quiz and to download the audio, go to our website at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/newsreview/unit-15/session-169

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