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Misinformation and the Coronavirus Resistance | Oxford Internet Institute

Would you believe that the Coronavirus was created by a cruel government to weaken its foreign rivals? Or that it was created by freedom fighters to encourage a civic revolution against big government and the deep state? It’s possible that you have seen junk health news stories in your social media feeds or by searching on Google or YouTube for information. Fortunately, we’re learning more and more about who produces them and how to stop their circulation.

While health care workers are working hard to take care of the sick, and scientists are working hard on a cure, there’s another important form of Coronavirus resistance worth encouraging and celebrating. Over the last few years the world’s fact checkers have built up their capacity for labelling lies and they’ve now turned to the problem of junk news about the Coronavirus epidemic.  They are helping social media firms move more quickly to dispel and discourage rumors, misinformation, and disinformation about the crisis.

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Source: Misinformation and the Coronavirus Resistance | Oxford Internet Institute