The rise of #Infodemic on #COVID19 over the social media platforms at the time of Global Public Health Emergency has taken the world by surprise.
The WHO is worried with the rising #Infodemics. Even Government of India recently issued directives to the social media platforms to impede the #misinformation dissemination on #COVID19.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Indian media — print, television and digital to publish only the official government version of news on COVID-19.
Now, the onus is on the social media companies to deal with this #Infodemics in a more sophisticated manner.
Facebook has now asked its task force to rate #COVID19 related content — true or false.
And in case any post is rated false or fake, Facebook’s AI tools would ‘limit its visibility’ and notify the publisher.
The Instagram decided to provide information in eight Indian languages from local authorities to fight misinformation or #fakenews.
It has also banned ads of face masks or any businesses looking to cash in on the coronavirus keyword.
The Instagram assigned ad credits to different government departments, to help them promote accurate information and advisories on the #COVID19 pandemic.
TikTok, the most popular social media platform for teenagers in India claims that it will “remove deliberate attempts to deceive the public.”
However, TikTok would large depend on user reports, and has committed to take down potentially problematic content.
Similarly, WhatsApp has introduced three official automated chatbot-based helplines.
It is going to collaborate with the MyGov Corona Helpdesk, the global WHO Coronavirus Helpline, and the British government’s coronavirus healthcare line to get rid of the misinformation.
Now, WhatsApp will rely on the accurate information from official authorities.
YouTube has also clear policies that prohibit videos promoting medically unsubstantiated methods to prevent the coronavirus in place of seeking medical treatment.
If any videos violate these policies, it would be removed quickly, only when the users flag the problematic content.
All searches about coronavirus on the social media platforms starting from Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube will link users to official content on the WHO’s platform.
#CheckTheFake on #COVID19
FAKE: That the lockdown would continue for more than three months triggering the mass exodus of migrant workers from cities to their homes in villages.
FACT: No plans to extend the 21-day coronavirus lockdown, said Union Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba at a review meeting on Monday with the Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla.
#CheckTheFake is a movement against #Infodemic in this crisis, initiated by Dr Anamika Ray Memorial Trust #ARMT (www.armt.in) in collaboration with The Assam Tribune and Northeast Now (www.nenow.in) to create awareness on #fakenews on #Coronavirus and improve media literacy through #Cartoons.