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COVID-19: Here’s how Facebook curbs dangerous hoaxes and misinformation
Facebook has announced another step the company is taking to combat the spread of harmful hoaxes and misinformation about COVID-19 on its platforms.
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Users who are exposed to harmful COVID-19 claims in their Newsfeed will receive messages pertaining to pandemic myths, including misinformation that has led to imminent physical harm.
The information is sourced from the World Health Organisation and tackles common misconceptions about the virus, including COVID-19’s relation to mobile networks, mosquitoes and temperature, no name a few.
This step aims to ensure that all Facebook users who may have interacted with harmful information about the virus get the truth from authoritative sources in case they encounter these claims again on Facebook.
Connecting users to accurate information
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Facebook has connected people to accurate information from health experts to keep harmful misinformation about COVID-19 from spreading on its apps.
Since the outbreak, Facebook has directed more than 2 billion users to valuable and factual resources through its COVID-19 Information Centre.
In addition, pop-ups on Facebook platforms and the Instagram app have reached more than 350 million people since the project was first launched.
More than 60 third-party fact-checking organisations worldwide, which spans across 50 languages, have also joined the initiative. However, Facebook plans to include additional languages and locations.
Reducing the spread of fake news
The team of third-party fact-checkers review content and flag it is false. Facebook then reduces the distribution of the post, along with adding warning labels that provide more context.
Kojo Boakye, the Head of Public Policy at Facebook Africa, says that Facebook is committed to connecting users will credible information and will continue to curb the spread of fake news:
“To date, we’ve directed over 2 billion people to resources from the WHO and other health authorities through our COVID-19 Information Center and pop-ups on Facebook and Instagram. As this pandemic evolves, we will continue focusing on the most effective ways to keep misinformation about COVID-19 off our apps and ensure people have credible information from health experts globally and locally.”
Earlier this month, Facebook also addressed deceptive advertising practices and took it one step further by filing a lawsuit in federal court against a user who violated the platform’s Terms and Policies.
Basant Gajjar, also known as “LeadCloak”, shared cloaking software and services “designed to circumvent automated ad review systems, and ultimately run deceptive ads on Facebook and Instagram”.
Journalism Project grant programme
To support the work of its third-party fact-checking partners, Facebook recently announced the first round of recipients of its $1 million grant programme in partnership with the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
IFCN’s Director, Baybars Orsek, explained that the “timely investment in fact-checking will be instrumental” in stopping the spread of COVID-19-related false news, and added:
“The IFCN has demonstrated its ability to lead the largest collaboration effort on the biggest outbreak in our century and Facebook’s support is welcomed by the fact-checking community”.
Through this initiative, Facebook has given grants to 13 third-party fact-checking organisations based in Italy, Spain, India, the Republic of Congo, and other nations.
Also read – Facebook launches Coronavirus Information Centre in 17 African countries
