Twitter plans to start warning users about misleading coronavirus info

Twitter said on Monday that in some cases, tweets that contain misleading or controversial information about the novel will add labels and warning messages Corona virusThis is a sign that the company is stepping up efforts to combat misinformation.

Misinformation about COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, is a constant challenge for social networks. False claims that encourage people to drink bleach or not wear masks can be harmful to health. Despite these efforts, conspiracy theories and jokes, including the fact that the virus is caused by 5G, continue to spread on social media websites.

Twitter said the new labels and warnings will provide more information and context about the misleading tweets, an approach that is consistent with misinformation from other websites like Facebook.

“In the future, we can use these labels and warnings to provide additional explanations or explanations in situations where the risk of harm associated with a tweet is less serious, but the content may still be confused or misled,” said Yoel Roth. The head of Twitter’s website integrity and Nick Pickles, who leads the company’s public order, in a blog entry.

If the information in the tweet is incorrect or misleading but is likely to cause “moderate” damage, Twitter will flag the tweet instead of removing it. The company will add a label and warning to claims that are contested or unknown, but are likely to cause serious harm. Twitter will take no action if the information has not been verified as true or false.

A Twitter spokeswoman said moderate damage could affect a person’s likelihood of coming into contact with the coronavirus, but generally doesn’t include a specific call to action. The company launched the new labels on Monday, but didn’t immediately have examples of what was considered serious or moderate damage.

In the warning message, Twitter users see the message “Some or all of the content released in this tweet is contrary to the instructions of public health experts regarding COVID-19”. A link follows to find out more. A label below the tweet contains a link that reads “Find out about COVID-19” that redirects users to more information.

Last week, Twitter and other social networks came up with a viral video that contained various conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic. In contrast to Facebook or YouTube from Google Twitter The videos were not removed, but the links to the video were marked as unsafe. Copies of the video continue to appear, including on Twitter.

The company has removed Tweets that contained harmful coronavirus misinformation from politicians such as Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Bolsonaro’s tweets included videos of the politician questioning social detachment and quarantine measures. Maduro recommended the use of a “natural concoction” as a potential cure for the coronavirus.

But Twitter also left President Donald Trump’s tweets calling for the liberation of three states where people protested the coronavirus blockage because the company said it was unclear or vague whether it was a “clear.” Call for action “that could endanger human health.