Healthcare workers are asking tech companies to do more to stop the spread of medical misinformation circulating the internet during the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 100 doctors and nurses sent a letter to the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter, Google, and YouTube, asking them to help tackle false content about the virus more aggressively, according to the Hill.
“Stories claiming cocaine is a cure, or that COVID-19 was developed as a biological weapon by China or the US, have spread faster than the virus itself,” said the letter, which was republished as an ad in Thursday’s New York Times.
The group of healthcare workers, working with the nonprofit activist group Avaaz, argued more action should be taken by technology companies to crack down on misleading or false information.
“Tech companies have tried to act, taking down certain content when it is flagged, and allowing the World Health Organization to run free ads. But their efforts are far from enough,” they said.
The spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation has been rampant amid the pandemic, prompting tech companies to take action against the dangers they pose.
Facebook has vowed to show fact-checked messages to users who may have come across misinformation online. Twitter and Google have taken steps to enhance algorithms that promote credible information from the World Health Organization about the virus.
Lawmakers such as Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff have sent similar letters requesting tech companies to be held more accountable and go further to combat the spread of online hoaxes.
