The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is funding a $4 million AI project aimed at combating “misinformation” about the HPV vaccine on social media platforms.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are working on a novel project funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that aims to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) tool designed to “inoculate” social media users against what they term as “misinformation” about the HPV vaccine. This initiative is part of a $4 million randomized controlled trial running from April 2022 through March 2027, facilitated by the National Cancer Institute, a division of HHS.
The project, known as “Inoculate for HPV Vaccine,” is led by Melanie L. Kornides, an associate professor of nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. Kornides’ research is centered on increasing vaccine uptake and devising strategies to combat vaccine-related “misinformation.” The initiative is aimed at developing an AI-based tool to monitor and counter misinformation on social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
According to the grant documents obtained by Children’s Health Defense (CHD) via a Freedom of Information Act request, the research team is using natural language processing (NLP) to train the AI tool to identify content they classify as “HPV misinformation.” This includes posts critical of the HPV vaccine, regardless of whether the content is factual or not.
The trial involves 2,500 parents of children aged 8-12, divided into different study groups. Some groups will be exposed to messaging designed to counteract content critical of HPV vaccines, while a control group will receive no specific messaging. The participants will receive follow-up “booster” messaging at three and six months to reinforce the initial exposure.
The initiative is part of a broader HHS project to enhance HPV vaccine uptake by developing tailored messaging for healthcare providers and community leaders. This project is one of over 50 grants awarded by HHS to various institutions to promote HPV vaccination. Since 2024, an additional 26 grants totaling nearly $28 million have been awarded to further these efforts.
This AI-based tool is also linked to a new initiative by the Biden administration that seeks to fund research on AI tools to identify and censor online “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation.” These projects are being funded through the National Science Foundation, as detailed in a U.S. House of Representatives interim report released in February.
Critics of the initiative argue that the classification of legitimate concerns about the HPV vaccine as “misinformation” is an overreach. Mary Holland, co-author of “The HPV Vaccine on Trial: Seeking Justice for a Generation Betrayed,” expressed her concerns to The Defender, stating that labeling dissenting views as misinformation is “a sign that they’ve lost the science and are now in a verbal food fight.”
Holland emphasized that the research on HPV vaccines has shown potential risks, which are often downplayed or ignored by public health narratives. She pointed to the numerous lawsuits against Merck, the manufacturer of the Gardasil vaccine, which faces over 200 lawsuits related to alleged injuries caused by the vaccine, including autoimmune disorders and premature ovarian failure. Moreover, there are over 200 Gardasil injury claims pending in Vaccine Court.
Despite these controversies, the researchers continue to advance their project, aiming to create AI-driven content that can swiftly address and neutralize what they classify as misinformation. This content will be used in potential wide-scale social media campaigns targeting various health issues, including COVID-19, childhood vaccinations, and cancer treatments.
As the AI tool’s development progresses, its effectiveness will be measured by the increase in vaccination rates among the study participants, as verified by medical records and self-reported data. However, critics remain concerned that this approach prioritizes narrative control over genuine public health discourse, potentially stifling legitimate concerns and discussions about vaccine safety.
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