Online misinformation is bad for our health

View in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]

Dear Friend,

Health misinformation can harm people's physical and mental health, and delay the provision of care. There is mounting evidence on the impact that it can have, including illness and death from unsafe health interventions and communicable and vaccine-preventable diseases.

That’s what Full Fact told the Government last week, when we wrote to them challenging the failure of the proposed Online Safety Bill to properly tackle health misinformation. We were joined by leading doctors, healthcare institutions and health charities.

Help prevent harm from health misinformation with a regular gift ([link removed]) .
Sign up today ([link removed])

Our letter followed the publication of our ground-breaking report, Online health misinformation in the UK (1), which details the way bad health misinformation spreads and the real-world impact it has.

The report concludes that to protect the future of our healthcare system, internet companies must have meaningful ways of dealing with health misinformation on their platforms. So, last month, we worked alongside former health minister Lord Bethell who tabled an Amendment to the Bill. If included, the Amendment would ensure that internet companies have duties to act and better protect their users from the threat of harmful health misinformation.

We want to see legislation that tackles the harm posed by bad information online, while strengthening our freedom of expression. Please support Full Fact’s rigorous policy work today.
Set up a regular gift ([link removed])

Health misinformation comes in many forms: dangerous alternative cancer treatments or questionable data on the risks of taking statins. Misleading posts can prevent parents from vaccinating their children. False claims can create mistrust of health professionals and systems and make people consider whether to stop taking their prescribed medication for mental health conditions.

At Full Fact we work to reduce the risk of health misinformation. And, as a registered charity, income from monthly Direct Debits means we can plan this work effectively. It allows us to not only engage with politicians and suggest amendments to legislation, but to back that up with considered, meticulous research powered by our fact checking work. We’re tackling both the impacts and the causes of health misinformation. Please join us with a regular gift today ([link removed]) , and help us put a stop to the harm it causes.
Join us with a regular gift ([link removed])
Thank you,

Josey Cullen—Individual Giving Manager
Full Fact

1. Full Fact report, Online health misinformation in the UK. Why it spreads, the impact it has, and how to reduce harm through the Online Safety Bill ([link removed]) , April 2023.

============================================================
** Follow us ([link removed])
** Follow us ([link removed])
** Donate ([link removed])
** Donate ([link removed])
** Like us ([link removed])
** Like us ([link removed])
** Follow us ([link removed])
** Follow us ([link removed])
Have any questions or feedback? Please ** get in touch via our contact form ([link removed])
. We do not respond to direct replies to this email address.

Find out ** how Full Fact is funded ([link removed])
.

Copyright © Full Fact 2023 - All rights reserved

A registered charity (no. 1158683) and a non-profit company (no. 6975984) limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.

Our mailing address is:
17 Oval Way, London, SE11 5RR

We use Mailchimp to send you our emails and to see which articles are most popular. ** Read our privacy policy ([link removed])
or ** Mailchimp's privacy policy ([link removed])

** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** update subscription preferences ([link removed])