Facebook To Curb Spread Of Fake News About Novel Coronavirus With Health Ministries Worldwide

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The World Health Organisation has deemed the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. And it doesn’t help that, as is the nature of the internet, misinformation about it are rife. Facebook has announced that it will do its part to limit the spread of misinformation. And it’s getting help from the health ministries across the world.

In addition to getting help from third-party fact-checkers, the social media company is also getting help from health organisations and authorities. Facebook will start removing content that have been identified as harmful by them. The definition of harmful includes claims that discourage precautions or treatment, or encourages false ones.

As a result, you’ll be less likely to see these fake information on Facebook and Instagram. This includes hashtags on the latter, of which the company says it will be proactively seek out and remove. Those who have sent or are trying to send them will also be informed that it’s been fact checked.