The organisation’s technical risk communication and social media teams have been tracking and responding to myths and rumors on the virus across Weibo, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Police earlier said they were investigating social media posts with misleading messages, including claims of an influx of Chinese tourists, new infections and virus-related deaths in the country. India has arrested five people on suspicion of spreading rumours on the whereabouts of patients, while Indonesia arrested two people on charges of spreading fake news related to coronavirus. "During Sars, we did not have social media," Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told reporters in Jan 31 comments posted on his website. The Wuhan doctor, Li Wenliang, was one of eight whistle blowers punished by police in January for "spreading rumours".

Source: Bangkok Post February 07, 2020 05:03 UTC