Tech may curb virus profiteering, not disinformation

Subject

Misinformation sources and combating.

Significance

Technology platforms are acting to fight the rise in false information shared online about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. These actions range from preventing advertisements that reference the virus, to directing users to World Health Organization (WHO) or local health service websites, or even removing all content that mentions the virus originating from unverified sources.

Impacts

• Platforms that do not address misinformation will be increasingly targeted as others do make changes.
• The weaponisation of misinformation around the virus for political gain is likely to increase once the threat dies down.
• Scammers will adjust their language to avoid detection, with some already recycling banned COVID-19 misinformation as generic ‘flu’ cures.