Middle East mythbusters battle virus 'infodemic'Activists are battling misinformation about coronavirus spread on social media platforms such as WhatsApp. Arabic pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are brimming with fake news stories on the novel coronavirus, from benign inaccuracies to full-throated conspiracy theories. As authorities work to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, activists across the Middle East are stepping up to combat the Arabic "infodemic" they say is as dangerous as the infection itself. Indeed, Reporters Without Borders has noted authorities' tightening control over media in the Middle East in 2020, specifically over information relating to Covid-19. WhatsApp boasts 75 percent penetration among internet users in the Middle East, according to a 2019 study by the Northwestern University in Qatar.

Source: Bangkok Post July 21, 2020 01:52 UTC