Facebook combats coronavirus misinformation and boosts factual updates on its platforms

With the worldwide coronavirus outbreak showing little sign of stopping, Facebook has outlined a series of measures to help users identify factual information and limit their exposure to misleading claims and content.

Facebook has enlisted a global network of third-party fact-checkers to review content and debunk false claims about coronavirus. After being rated as false information, offending content will be limited by Facebook and Instagram, while accurate information will be displayed to users.

Facebook will also send notifications to users who have already shared or are attempting to share misinformation, alerting them that it's been fact-checked and found wanting for veracity.

The platform will also begin removing content with false claims or unsupported conspiracy theories - which have been flagged by leading global health organisations and local health authorities - that could cause harm if disseminated.

For example, as part of its effort to continuously remove content that could cause physical harm, claims that are designed to discourage treatment or taking appropriate precautions - such as drinking bleach to cure the coronavirus - could be removed.

As for hashtags, there will be blocks and restrictions to block the spread of misinformation on Instagram. The platform will also perform proactive sweeps to find and remove such content.

In addition to removing harmful content, Facebook is providing users with accurate information. Through its partners, it will display messages on top of news feeds to help people get relevant and up-to-date information which will be deployed based on guidance from the World Health Organisation.

When users look for information related to the virus on Facebook or tap a related hashtag on Instagram, Facebook will provide an educational pop-up with credible information.

To further promote accurate yet reliable information, Facebook has also provided free advertising credits to enable organisations to run coronavirus education campaigns on Facebook and on Instagram in affected regions.

Facebook said the above measures were not fully in place as they will take some time to roll out across Facebook’s platforms to bring these enforcement methods up to scratch.