[thu2111]

They've been promoting other ills to their readers instead, e.g. conspiracy theories about Russia. And they do it non-algorithmically, i.e. knowingly, and isn't that worse? At least with an algorithm the creator can claim any independent decision it makes wasn't an intended outcome. Journalists don't get to say that.

[JamisonM]

If you are implying that coverage of Russian election interference is promoting conspiracy theories, then you would need to contend with the actual facts of the Russian efforts to influence US electoral politics to make that case.

Even if you held that coverage of Russia's role in the 2016 election was promotion of a conspiracy theory it would still be an obvious false equivalence to compare that to the promotion of groups like Bugaloo (that has killed multiple federal officers) or QAnon (which has resulted in multiple kidnappings, many other crimes, and promotes the worst antisemetic conspiracies invented, and more far more absurd things).