I really despise how the term "fake news" can now liberally be applied to any dialog that challenges the status quo. There are legitimate conversations that sho

I really despise how the term "fake news" can now liberally be applied to any dialog that challenges the status quo. There are legitimate conversations that should happen around broad surveillance, shutting that down because some actors derail the topic with wild unsubstantiated claims is just wrong. With such a huge signal/noise ratio for information these days it seems we are rapidly heading toward people not thinking for themselves and deferring to 'approved' sources of information. All the 'fake news' will be taken down, this will include dissent obviously. I worry for the future. People accept contact tracing and don't see how this is exactly what the Chinese govt. have been doing for a number of years, something we used to reject as authoritarian and against western ideals. It's astonishing what we have lost in such a small period of time. Any policy made today will almost certainly be carried indefinitely forward, the the "new normal". Another term that horrifies and depresses me.