For the overwhelming majority of people, the spread of Covid-19 as a global pandemic is unlike anything they have every experienced before. The last time something similar occurred was the spread of the Spanish Flu in 1918. As with all global threats, in addition to the physical danger there is also the perceived danger of the pandemic. Mixed into this is that (while a member of the Corona virus family) there is no vaccine for the virus, and there isn’t very much known about whether it will mutate, how it impacts people with immune compromised systems and also what the best ways of treating it are. We do know it is highly contagious. To contain and mitigate the threat, governments around the world are taking drastic action with new regulations and policies, and key freedoms are being curtailed in this process. We are thus presented with a scenario where there is a real and perceived treat, where there isn’t, until recently, a lot of content about it and where governments are taking drastic action. In such a scenario not only is it easy to see how fears could be stoked, but we can also see how easy it is for gaps and lapses in communication to be exploited. In other words, we have a perfect scenario for the spread of mis and disinformation.
REPORT COVID-19 DISINFORMATION
We already know that disinformation thrives in an environment where there are heightened tensions, deeply complex issues at stake and where the general knowledge level is relatively low. It is unlikely for panic to easily spread for example about the earth being flat and that people will fall off if they go too close. General knowledge about such a basic idea is relatively high and not major move in the earth would help encourage people to believe such a thing. In our current context however it is only too easy to make up nonsense and lies about Covid-19. Some might do it as a poor joke, some might spread misinformation through ignorance because they got it on their mobile device, others may be more sinister and seek to exploit fears to sell products like sanitizers, and others might do it to see the reaction of fear. Whatever the motivation, what is clear is that mis and disinformation can and do cause real harm. It is why our government has taken the extraordinary step of criminalizing those who intentionally deceive people about Covid-19. Mis and disinformation not only destroys democracy, in the current instance it also places people’s lives at risk.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed, and that little can be done in view of the onslaught of mis and disinformation about Covid-19. But, if you report instances here, it will be reviewed by experts and action can be taken to help curb its spread. While we cannot stop mis and disinformation, we can actively counter it and we can significantly reduce its impact and spread. Reporting on Real411 is a quick and easy way to help protect our democracy, and keep others from succumbing to fear and misinformation.