LONDON/NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Since the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus an international health emergency in January, Facebook has removed more than 7 million pieces of content with false claims about the virus that could pose an immediate health risk to people who believe them.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
LONDON/NEW YORK - Since the World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus an international health emergency in January, Facebook has removed more than seven million pieces of content with false claims about the virus that could pose an immediate health risk to people who believe them.
Mr Tom Phillips, editor at one of Facebook's fact-checking partners Full Fact, sees the conundrum this way:"How do you fact check about a vaccine that does not exist yet?" Drawing the line between true and false is also more complex for the new Covid-19 vaccines, fact-checkers told Reuters, than with content about vaccines with an established safety record.
One public Facebook group called"Refuse corona v@x and screw Bill Gates", referring to the billionaire whose foundation is helping to fund the development of vaccines, was started in April by Mr Michael Schneider, a 42-year-old city contractor in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Facebook said that these posts did not violate its policies related to imminent harm."If we simply removed all conspiracy theories and hoaxes, they would exist elsewhere on the Internet and broader social media ecosystem. This helps give more context when these hoaxes appear elsewhere," a spokesman said.
If the false information is likely to cause imminent harm, then it will be removed altogether. Last month, under these rules, the company removed a video touting hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus cure - though only after it racked up millions of views. But Mr Jacob Mchangama, the executive director of Copenhagen-based think tank Justitia who was consulted by Facebook about its vaccine approach, fears the fallout from mass deletions. "This may have long-term consequences for free speech when this virus is hopefully contained," he said.However, in Pakistan last year, the company intervened to take down false claims about the polio vaccine drive that were leading to violence against health workers.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Facebook’s dilemma: How to police claims about unproven COVID-19 vaccinesSince the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus an international health emergency in January, Facebook Inc has removed more ...
Read more »
Global recovery will come faster if COVID-19 vaccine available to all: WHO chiefEconomic recovery around the world could comes faster if any COVID-19 vaccine is made available to all as a public good, World Health ...
Read more »
Brazil's Bolsonaro orders US$360 million to be set aside for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccineBrazilian President Jair Bolsonaro issued a decree on Thursday that will set aside 1.9 billion reais (US$356 million) in funds to purchase and ...
Read more »
Human trials of COVID-19 vaccine set to begin in IndonesiaHuman trials on a potential coronavirus vaccine are due to start in Indonesia next week as part of a collaboration between state-owned ...
Read more »
AstraZeneca in deal with Kangtai Bio to supply potential COVID-19 vaccine in ChinaAstraZeneca PLC has signed an exclusive framework agreement with China's Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products to supply its COVID-19 vaccine ...
Read more »
Israel institute to start COVID-19 vaccine trials in humans soonJERUSALEM: An Israeli research institute that is overseen by the Defence Ministry intends to begin human trials for a potential COVID-19 vaccine ...
Read more »