misinformation

Facebook Slams ‘Severe’ Singapore Misinformation Law

June 2, 2020 5:36 am

Facebook said Monday Singapore’s use of an online misinformation law is “severe” and risks stifling free speech, after the company was again forced to block a page in the city-state.

It was the latest criticism from the tech giant over legislation that empowers ministers to tell internet platforms to put warnings next to posts they deem false and order the blocking of pages.

Fringe political website the National Times Singapore was accused of making false statements via its Facebook page, including a claim that “every criticism” of the government had been outlawed under the disinformation law.

The site was ordered …

Public Distrust Hampers Africa Fight Against Virus Misinformation

Africa’s Harsh Battle Against Virus Misinformation

March 26, 2020 6:14 pm

African nations fighting the novel coronavirus face a foe as stealthy and dangerous as the microbe itself: misinformation and apathy, fuelled by deep distrust of government.

Bogus news and indifference to official warnings are emerging as giant obstacles in a region where poor healthcare infrastructure, sanitation and overcrowded slums provide fertile ground for COVID-19 to spread.

Africa has recorded nearly 2,800 cases and at least 70 deaths, according to an AFP compilation as of Thursday.

The tally may lag far behind that of other continents, but the World Health Organization (WHO), backed by the top names in medicine, has bluntly …

Instagram Says Will Fight Misinformation With Fact-Checks

December 18, 2019 3:15 pm

Instagram on Monday went global in its fight against misinformation, making alliances with fact-checkers around the world to expose deception in shared photos or videos.

The Facebook-owned social platform launched a fact-checking program in the US early this year.

“Today’s expansion is an important step in our ongoing efforts to fight misinformation on Instagram,” the service said in an online post.

“Photo and video based misinformation is increasingly a challenge across our industry, and something our teams have been focused on addressing.”

Instagram began working with third-party allies in the US to help identify, review and label bogus posts.

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Osinbajo Says Religious Misinformation Can Tear Nigeria

October 25, 2019 4:49 am

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that religious misinformation by the media is capable of creating conflict that could completely get out of hand and jeopardise citizens’ lives and property.

Osinbajo, who gave this warning yesterday in Abuja at an inter-faith tolerance dialogue organised by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy, regretted that most Nigerians were not enlightened enough to differentiate between fact and fiction.

He argued that the conflict in the country presently was that of extremism and not religious, adding that religious leaders must go beyond

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