A monthly series from the Web Foundation
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** We must all fight the global pandemic of misinformation.
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From dangerous claims that drinking bleach is a miracle cure ([link removed]) to bogus conspiracy theories that 5G is responsible for the spread of the virus ([link removed]) , the web has been inundated with Covid-19 misinformation in recent months.

As the coronavirus has spread across the globe, so too havehttps://www.buzzfeed.com/joeydurso/youtube-coronavirus-misinformationfake cures ([link removed]) ,rumours ([link removed]) and lies — leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to label the situation as an "infodemic" ([link removed]) .

While the web isn’t the cause of misinformation, it helps it spread faster and further than ever before. But it's also a critical tool ([link removed]) for governments, health authorities and scientists to provide the public with clear, up-to-date information during this public health crisis.

Here, we untangle what we must do to fight back against the flood of falsehoods and ensure the web helps keep us informed and safe.
We must be the immune system for the web. Here's how.
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If we each play our role, together we can overwhelm Covid-19 misinformation and make sure the web continues to keep us informed and safe in a moment that we need it most.

- Emily Sharpe, Director of Policy ([link removed])


** It's never been more important that we come together to fight online misinformation.
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At best, false claims, rumours and conspiracy theories get in the way of important advice and support. At worst, this viral misinformation costs lives.

We've recommended steps governments, companies and all of us as citizens can take to preserve the web as the channel of accurate information ([link removed]) we so need. These include:

🏛 Governments
* Make accurate Covid-19 information widely available and accessible to all
* Never publish or spread misleading information
* Actively counter misinformation while respecting freedom of expression

💼 Companies
* Prominently display accurate health information
* Design products to discourage sharing of misinformation and provide users with clear guidance on how to respond to and report misinformation
* Dedicate emergency resources to limit the spread of misinformation, and remove content when warranted

🗣 Citizens
* Share accurate, credible updates and advice from trusted sources likeWHO ([link removed]) , public health authorities and reputable news outlets
* Don’t share, quote or reply to misinformation as this engagement can help it spread further
* Use reporting tools available ([link removed]) on social media platforms to report misinformation

Read the policy brief ([link removed])
More to explore

☑️ Seen a questionable post about Covid-19? The CoronaVirusFacts/DatosCoronaVirus alliance is fact checking some of the most popular inaccuracies ([link removed]) across 70+ countries.

📄 Access Now recommends how governments should respond to the current "infodemic" ([link removed]) .

🌍 This tool from the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) tracks government action on disinformation ([link removed]) across Sub-Saharan Africa.

📈 Harmful misinformation pollutes our online world, despite efforts to reduce its spread. Avaaz examines the dangerous content putting Facebook users at risk ([link removed]) .

🌐 How are social media platforms responding to the pandemic? Public Knowledge analysed what the companies' efforts may mean for the future of content moderation ([link removed]) .

🕹 Go on your own interactive misinformation adventure with Pollicy’s Choose Your Own Fake News game ([link removed]) .

❓ How has big tech lived up to commitments to crack down on misinformation? This report from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate and Restless Development takes a look ([link removed]) .

🛠 5G does not transmit the coronavirus. Period. But as The Verge reports ([link removed]) , this bogus conspiracy theory has fueled attacks on telecoms engineers in the UK — and beyond.

🔍 Craig Silverman, media editor of Buzzfeed News, explains how he tracks the coronavirus misinformation and hoaxes ([link removed]) that comprise the current “information apocalypse”.

🤔 Who's pushing Covid-19 misinformation on Facebook? NewsGuard tracks the Facebook pages that repeat, share and amplify ([link removed]) everything from false cures to conspiracy theories.
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2020

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