The UK government has launched several initiatives to crack down on fake news spreading across the country about the coronavirus pandemic.
In order to combat fake news about the coronavirus pandemic, the UK government has started a crackdown on misinformation. The Cabinet Office has formed a rapid response team to work with social media firms to remove fake news and harmful content.
According to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, action was needed "to stem the spread of falsehoods and rumors, which could cost lives". The specialist unit deals with as many as 10 incidents daily.
One example of such incident was after the government started sending texts urging people to stay at home, several fake versions of the message began circulating on social media. One claimed that people had been fined for breaking the rules.
Dowden pointed out: "We need people to follow expert medical advice and stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. It is vital that this message hits home and that misinformation and disinformation which undermines it is knocked down quickly."
Aside from the rapid response team, the government is also relaunching a campaign called "Don't Feed the Beast", urging the public to think carefully about what they share online.
This comes after the former chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee asked for knowingly sharing misinformation about Covid-19 to be made an offense.
MP Damian Collins argued: "The information contagion around Covid-19 is so dangerous, because there is so much that people don't know and so much happening all the time, that it is very easy for false rumours to take hold and spread."
Collins has began an online service where members of the public can post screenshots of coronavirus-related information they have been sent.
To take part of this initiative, several social media companies, including Twitter, Facebook, and Google have pledged to cooperate with governments on the issue and to help those in self-isolation.
