COVID-19: Google is creating ‘self-check website’, curbs misinformation

According to Google, the company’s mission has been to “organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”, and has been doing that for the past 21 years. If ever there was a need for this, it’s now amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19.

Here’s what Google is doing amid COVID-19 fears

Keeping netizens ‘safe, informed and connected’

Google CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, said in a company update that the tech giant has “accelerated their work to help people stay safe, informed and connected”.

Pichai explained that Google will be partnering with the US government to develop a website dedicated to education, prevention and resources pertaining to COVID-19.

The information will be sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The initial version of the website would have been ready on Monday, 16 March 2020.

However, according to The Verge, a Google spokesperson told the outlet that more time is needed to “fill out of the features of the new informational site”.

Website launch delay

According to a statement, Google’s system company Verily launched a pilot website over the weekend to include counties in the Bay Area. In addition, the company was “working with authorities to scale this effort further”.

“With local and national guidance evolving rapidly, Google will continue working with relevant agencies and authorities to roll out a website later this week”.

Unfortunately, the site reached capacity in less thana day. Google has a large team of engineers devoted to the project, and has made significant progress

Google’s ‘Do The Five’ campaign

In the meantime, Google advises netizens to “find timely and useful information” through Search, Maps and YouTube. Pichai also adds:

“Right now on the Google homepage we’re promoting the ‘Do the Five’ campaign to raise awareness of simple measures people can take to slow the spread of the disease, according to the WHO”.

The Do The Five campaign aims to raise awareness of simple measure people can take to slow the spread of COVID-19. The general public health information was gleaned from WHO, and includes:

1. Hands: Wash them often
2. Elbow: Cough into it
3. Face: Don’t touch it
4. Feet: Stay more than 1m apart
5. Feel: Sick? Stay home.

Protecting people from COVID-19 misinformation

In addition, Google confirmed on its blog that the team will also remove “COVID-19 misinformation on YouTube, Google Maps and developer platforms”; such as Play on Google Ads.

“On YouTube, we’ve taken down thousands of videos related to dangerous or misleading coronavirus information; we continue to remove videos that promote medically unproven methods to prevent coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment.”

On Google Maps, the company’s automated and manual review systems continue to “take down false and harmful content such as fake reviews and misleading information about healthcare locations”. 

Also read – Coronavirus isolation: Tour 8 famous museums from your couch [photos]