In fact, there is so much misinformation, disinformation, alternative treatment peddling, xenophibia and hoax creation that social media platforms are scrambling to keep up. This Vox Recode story has examples, as do this Reuters piece about Facebook’s efforts to remove posts and this Vice story, aptly titled: “The Coronavirus is an Exciting Opportunity for Conspiracy Theorists.” Quartz adds important perspective about how xenophobia and rumors are starting to hurt China Towns.
In response, the WHO runs a 24/7 communications team working to detect and discredit the most damaging rumors and misinformation campaigns, and is now partnering with Google to ensure those who search for ‘coronavirus’ find reliable sources, not fake news.
On this page, we are curating key stories and tips on how to navigate emerging news on the outbreak with an eye for questionable sources and ways to look for consensus among expert observers. Scroll to the bottom for a list of science & health journalists and subject matter experts who provide excellent, evidence-based updates on Twitter.
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Reuters | Jeffrey Dustin | Feb 27, 2020
Amazon.com Inc has barred more than 1 million products from sale in recent weeks that had inaccurately claimed to cure or defend against the coronavirus.