To the FCC:

It is unlawful for broadcasters to air misinformation that threatens public health and safety. But right now Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh are using their radio shows on the public airwaves to spread false information about the COVID-19 crisis. And television broadcasters are airing President Trump’s dangerous misinformation without providing a disclaimer. This has arguably cost people their lives.

The FCC must remind broadcasters of their duty to prevent the spread of misinformation and it must investigate outlets that spread false information without issuing disclaimers. In the case of the president, the FCC should urge broadcasters to provide disclaimers when he utters false — and potentially dangerous — information about coronavirus.

The FCC has a responsibility to stop the spread of misinformation about coronavirus on the public airwaves. Please act before even more lives are lost.

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    Tell the FCC to Stop the Spread of Misinformation About Coronavirus.

    Tell the FCC to Stop the Spread of Misinformation About Coronavirus

    Misinformation about COVID-19 is deadly — especially when it’s coming from the president of the United States.

    President Trump has spent weeks downplaying the virus and spouting lies in his press conferences, standing in the way of a unified national response to the pandemic and contributing to the rapidly spreading disease.

    And last week during one of his nightly press conferences that aired on broadcast-television stations across the country, President Trump talked about the alleged benefits of a drug called chloroquine in treating coronavirus. But the FDA has not approved chloroquine for this illness and studies of its safety and effectiveness are just beginning. After hearing this press conference, a couple in their 60s ingested the drug because they believed it could prevent them from becoming sick. Now, one of them has passed away and the other is in critical condition.

    Many conservative outlets are echoing the Trump administration’s tone about the pandemic by downplaying the virus, spreading conspiracy theories or spouting racist comments targeting Asian people.

    The Federal Communications Commission has rules on the books to deal with this kind of misuse and abuse of the public airwaves and it needs to enforce them.

    Sign the petition: Tell the FCC to stop the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 on the public airwaves NOW.