Removing fact-checks on social media risks losing a vital harm filter

Free speech shouldn't be curtailed merely for conveying misinformation or expressing unpalatable or hateful opinions. It should be limited only when it has the potential to cause harm

The Enron Egg has been viral on social media for a while. This white egg-shaped tabletop device is touted as a micronuclear reactor that can power a home for 10 years.

 

It’s fake, of course. After Enron went bankrupt, its name and logo were purchased by a content creator who specialises in satire, and clearly says so. The device was “launched” by Connor Gaydos, chief executive officer of the new Enron. Mr Gaydos is also the co-author of Birds Aren’t Real, a book that debunks online conspiracy theories.

 

The name itself triggers doubt since Enron suffered a spectacular bankruptcy. A