Social networks still failing to tackle COVID-19 misinformation, report claims

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2021-06-29 16:00:06

Preliminary research from global civic organisation Avaaz suggests that Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have not prevented the sharing of false rumours during the pandemic.

Since the start of the global health crisis, all platforms have pledged that reliable information about the coronavirus is shared on their platforms.

But as Europe faces a possible third wave of infections, Avaaz says that "none" of the big tech companies are effectively curbing the spread of COVID-19 disinformation.

"It's exhausting to keep saying this, but none of the tech platforms are doing enough to curb the toxic lies polluting their platforms," said Luca Nicotra, Campaign Director at Avaaz.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously warned about a COVID-19 "infodemic" that threatens to undermine the global response to the health crisis.

Avaaz has called on social networks, and the European Union, to tackle COVID-19 misinformation in a similar way to climate change.

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