A webpage detailing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s policy for moderating public comments has been revised amid litigation accusing the agency of censorship.
The webpage outlines the CDC’s “Guidelines for Public Comments” on its websites, social media profiles, blogs, and applications. It also states that comments found to violate agency policy may be hidden or removed.
Last updated on Nov. 25, the policy prohibits comments that contain personally identifiable information; threats of harm or violence; profanity, nudity, obscenity, or vulgarity; or the explicit promotion of commercial products or services.
However, an archived version of the page shows that the list has been winnowed down since February, when it also barred “misleading or false information,” defamation, name-calling or personal attacks, comments that infringe on copyrights, and spam….