The Joe Rogan Debacle

Catch 22

With the recent controversies surrounding podcaster Joe Rogan, I have decided to lay down my central arguments. This article is meant to outline my thoughts on Rogan and possible steps moving forward.

Joe Rogan and Misinformation

I will state this as bluntly as possible… Joe Rogan has made numerous false claims pertaining to covid-19 as well as bringing in guests who also make egregiously false claims.

I have made Instagram post about Joe’s claims. Others such as DebunktheFunk on YouTube and Unbiasedscipod on Instagram have done a wonderful job debunking Rogan’s guests, namely Peter McCullough and Robert Malone.

So, it is clear Rogan has made incorrect claims and people claim he is spreading misinformation. Misinformation is typically defined as the spread of false information unintentionally, while disinformation is the spread of false information on purpose.

I would take it a step further to suggest Joe Rogan’s podcast is a source of disinformation especially for having on grifters like McCullough and Malone. However, people are labeling this as misinformation, giving Joe the benefit of the doubt given he isn’t a scientist.

Yet, Rogan consistently makes false claims pertaining to the pandemic even while admitting he is not an expert. If you aren’t an expert and are making claims related to a topic you aren’t an expert on to a platform of millions it is fair to classify that as disinformation, but I digress.

The central argument: Joe Rogan has made false claims related to the covid-19 pandemic. He also features known charlatans who also make false claims related to covid. These are indisputable facts.

Joe Rogan and Censorship

Rogan has been rightfully called out for his spread of disinformation online. Hundreds of scientists have signed a petition to Spotify to stop the spread of misinformation from podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience.

Not to mention other musicians, podcasters, and celebrity figures pulling their support from Spotify. Spotify’s 100 million dollar investment to have Rogan’s podcast exclusive to their platform has cost them billions in the process. Yet, Spotify still has hosts Joe Rogan’s podcast and has not taken down the false disinformation spreading episodes.

This has brought up the important question, should we censor Joe Rogan? This question and the preceding arguments tend to be misleading. The central focus should not be on “censorship” but accountability.

Is it okay for Joe Rogan and his guest to state disinformation on their platform? Disinformation that has the potential to kill people during a global pandemic. If Joe knowingly isn’t an expert on these topics, is it responsible for him to make strong claims about these topics?

When does harm become permissible in our society? If the misinformation/disinformation on Rogan’s podcast leads to death… Why isn’t Joe held accountable? Because it is his opinion? But these aren’t opinions these are facts.

If a salesperson knowingly told you a car you were thinking about purchasing is brand new but turns out to be a lemon… who is responsible? Some people might blame the buyer stating, “They should know better”, but the problem is also the salesperson.

The salesperson is knowingly putting the buyer at harm. While Joe isn’t selling cars he is giving people information that will impact their decision-making whether anyone likes that or not. Where is the accountability on his part?

People sue corporations and individuals for false claims all the time, but because it’s Joe Rogan it is perfectly permissible?

Central Argument: All freedoms have limits, when you utter speech that puts people’s lives at risk this puts them at harm. Joe Rogan is putting others in harm’s way with his claims.

What should we do?

Ultimately, pulling our financial support for Spotify and others who support Joe Rogan’s podcast is an effective method. In a capitalist society, we have to vote with what matters to large corporations and big personalities, money.

However, this may not be enough. Spotify has to fix its loose guidelines pertaining to misinformation on the platform. Rogan’s episodes related to covid should be taken down as even the mere exposure to misinformation can be harmful.

The Catch 22

Keep in mind Spotify is a private company that can deplatform Rogan at any time for any reason it wishes. To suggest regulation of Spotify to not deplatform anyone it seeks to would strip away the companies freedom to run the platform as they see fit.

I often notice the populist anti-establishment “big tech” arguments made by conservative and libertarian commentators contradict their central ideologies. If the central ideology is to let corporations run themselves and govern themselves as they see fit this would allow them to censor or deplatform anyone on their platforms for any reason.

However, to suggest government regulation would be at odds with the above-mentioned central ideology… As the government will be given more power and more oversight into these types of companies. We would have to dedicate policy towards mis/disinformation, censorship, and platforming which will require enforcement.

This is the catch 22 in this conversation, you are either for corporations doing as they please including censorship or you are for some form of government regulation of these companies effectively stripping them of their freedom.