Nature surveys 321 scientists worldwide
More than two-thirds of respondents experienced malicious comments
15% of scientists who have done research on COVID-19 have experienced death threats from comments related to vaccines, etc. If personal beliefs or inclinations conflict with scientific judgment, the trend of attacking even experts without hesitation has intensified. Research into the origins of COVID-19 has been stalled due to political issues.
The international academic journal Nature surveyed 321 scientists from around the world and published them on the 13th (local time) to investigate the problems that occurred after remarks related to COVID-19 in the media or social networking service (SNS). In the survey, two-thirds of respondents experienced malicious comments following comments related to COVID-19, and 22% said they had been physically attacked or threatened with sexual assault. 15% of those who said they had been threatened with death also reached 15%. The topics that sparked the public attack were said to be vaccinations, wearing masks, and views on the origins of COVID-19.
Threats to scientists varied. German virologist Christian Drosten received a package with a note written ‘Drink this’ along with a liquid labeled ‘positive’. In Belgium, a military sniper deserted after leaving a note saying he would “target a virologist,” and a potential scholar took refuge in a safe house.
Attacks on scientists have occurred in the past in relation to topics such as climate change, but it is evaluated that the level has risen in the course of this COVID-19 pandemic. Some scientists are said to no longer publicly address the COVID-19 issue after the attack. This led to ‘self-censorship’.
Some scholars point out that the opinions of experts should be protected systematically. In the case of the Royal Canadian Society of Canada, a working group was formed in May on ‘Protecting Public Advice’. Fiona Fox, director of the Science Media Center in the UK, said, “It would be a huge loss if scientists were excluded from public debate in a situation where scientists are desperately involved with the press and share their expertise.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) formed the International Scientific Advisory Group for the Origin (Investigation) of New Pathogens (SAGO) on the same day, in which 26 scientists from various countries participated to investigate the origin of COVID-19. WHO tried to conduct a study on an antibody test conducted in Wuhan in 2019 to confirm the origin of COVID-19 and the mechanism of human infection, but failed due to lack of cooperation from China. The WHO emphasized that SAGO’s activities were a ‘last chance’ to reveal the origins of COVID-19, but China still refused. Some foreign media criticized this as “political issues are an obstacle to COVID-19 research.”
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