Documentary 'Der Hype' Accuses Swiss Covid Task Force of Mobbing Critical Researcher

A new documentary, 'Der Hype' (115 minutes), directed by Mike Wyniger, premieres in Swiss cinemas and online, alleging that members of the Swiss National Covid-19 Science Task Force mobbed and forced out epidemiologist Taulant Muka from the University of Bern. The film features scientists critical of pandemic measures, including Beda Stadler, John P. Ioannidis, Anders Tegnell, and Pietro Vernazza, arguing that measures were exaggerated and not evidence-based. Muka claims that after he pointed out errors in Task Force studies and publicly expressed dissenting views, Task Force members Matthias Egger, Christian Althaus, and Nicola Low questioned his scientific integrity, leading to the dissolution of his research group and delayed professorship. The University of Bern declined comment, citing data protection. Muka's former supervisor Oscar Franco noted that emotions ran high on both sides and mediation failed. Muka left the university in 2023 to focus on a startup. The film omits vaccination, which the director says is too ideologically charged. The documentary is criticized for one-sidedness but raises questions about handling dissent in science and media.