Facebook will remove misinformation on coronavirus vaccine.
Facebook said on Thursday it will remove misinformation containing allegations about Covid-19 vaccines debunked by public health experts, as the social network works more aggressively to fight misinformation about the coronavirus while lies are rife.
This step bypasses the way Facebook handled misinformation about other types of vaccines. The company had previously made it difficult to find vaccine misleading information unrelated to the Coronavirus by “downgrading” it, making it less visible in people’s news feeds.
But Facebook said it plans to completely remove Covid-19 vaccine falsehoods if the allegations are questioned or contradicted by health groups including the World Health Organization, the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This is another way we apply our policy to remove misinformation about the virus that can lead to imminent physical harm,” the company said in a blog post. This could include false claims about the safety, efficacy, ingredients, or side effects of vaccines.
Facebook added that it would also delete “false claims that Covid-19 vaccines contain microchips, or anything else not on the official vaccine ingredient list.”
The social network has always been reluctant to delve into the charged space by identifying right or wrong information on its platform. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO of Facebook, has made it clear that he “doesn’t want to be a real judge” of what is posted on the site.
But Mr. Zuckerberg has also taken an active role in combating the spread of disinformation about the Coronavirus. Facebook has created new products and tools to inform the public about the potential risks of the virus. Mr. Zuckerberg sent an email to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief US infectious disease expert, in early March to offer his assistance in the fight against the virus. Dr. Fauci has since appeared in several live Facebook interviews with Mr. Zuckerberg.
Facebook said that due to the novelty of Covid-19 vaccines, not all false claims can be removed immediately. The social network said it also plans to continue sending people to the Covid-19 Information Center, which contains verified and up-to-date information about the virus.
Facebook’s decision to remove vaccine misinformation was unprecedented. The company previously removed false information about the polio vaccine in Pakistan, as well as false information about the measles vaccine in Samoa during the outbreak.
Facebook will remove misinformation
Facebook will remove misinformation
