It’s not like Sarasota County’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) hasn’t made bad moves before. For anyone living in Sarasota since 2010, Sanborn Studies is etched in memory as a foolish EDC giveaway. which gave $650,000 in County tax dollars to an unproven film studio. Dozens of promised high salary jobs failed to materialize. Foolishly funding a film studio is one thing, funding a propaganda platform for conspiracy theories is another. But that is exactly what Sarasota County’s Economic Development Corporation decided to do when they recently announced their award of $825,000 to internet video platform Rumble. Rumble will move their headquarters from Toronto to Longboat Key.
Effective fact checking of online content is in its infancy for platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Rumble says they take a “free speech” approach to fact checking. Translation: Rumble doesn’t fact check. Rumble is the platform used by those who are no longer permitted to put out false or inflammatory content on YouTube – content creators and controversial voices like Steve Bannon, Mike Flynn, QAnon conspiracy theorists and Anti-Vaxxers. In other words, it a great place to spread propaganda and even foment insurrection with impunity. Your tax dollars at work.
“Wired” magazine reported in the article “Rumble Sends Viewers Tumbling Toward Misinformation” (May 11, 2021) that their research “reveals that Rumble has not only allowed misinformation to thrive on its platform, it has also actively recommended it”. From the article:
“If you search ‘vaccine’ on Rumble, you are three times more likely to be recommended videos containing misinformation about the coronavirus than accurate information. One video by user TommyBX featuring Carrie Madej—a popular voice in the anti-vax world—alleges, ‘This is not just a vaccine; we’re being connected to artificial intelligence.’ Others unfoundedly state that the vaccine is deadly and has not been properly tested.”
Rumble claims they will be investing $50 million in the state of Florida, which begs the question, if they have that kind of revenue, why do they need an $825,000 handout from Sarasota County? Another, more serious question comes to mind – will Rumble be the video platform of choice for Florida’s dark money PACs? Is this the $50 million “investment” we can look forward to? Influencing elections with misinformation and conspiracy theories?
Rumble says they will relocate their business to Longboat Key. Longboat Key is also a home base for Charlie Kirk, the 27 year-old political commentator who has 1.7 million followers on Twitter. Kirk tweeted on January 4th that his organization, Turning Point USA, was funding over 80 buses of participants to the January 6th “Stop the Steal” assembly . Did Kirk’s organization fund any of the buses which transported people from Sarasota/Manatee to DC that fateful day? Is Longboat Key becoming a hub for undermining our democracy?
Corporate welfare is a problem to begin with. When the EDC funds conspiracy theorists and partisan propaganda with local tax dollars, our democracy is in trouble. This is about more than money.
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I’m familiar with Rumble and was not happy to read earlier that it is moving to LBK. Now you’re telling me the County Economic Development Corp is funding this new business to the tune of $825,000! Unbelievable. Far right conspiracy loons are ruining the reputation of thoughtful conservatives who could not possibly support what Rumble does.
Rumble is the You Tube alternative, lots of us are not happy with Facebook, twitter and You Tube. Those 3 are major players in misinformation. Even removing a President…