Censorship, Free Speech, and Democracy

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya is a distinguished Stanford University professor specializing in epidemiology, economics, and health research policy. As the director of Stanford's Center for Demography and Economics of Health and Aging, he has significantly contributed to healthcare economics. Bhattacharya's research centers on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, focusing on the impact of government programs and biomedical innovation. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, Dr. Bhattacharya pivoted his research toward understanding the epidemiology of the virus and the impact of lockdown measures. His research during this period culminated in co-authoring the Great Barrington Declaration, an open letter advocating for a targeted approach to achieve herd immunity by easing restrictions on lower-risk populations. Dr. Bhattacharya and several other sued the Biden administration when it was discovered that the government coerced social media platforms to censor them. This week, the Supreme Court handed down an opinion that the plaintiffs have no standing to sue. Find out why this is a big problem for all of us, and where the case stands today.