Facebook has no plans to roll out specific features to combat recent sharing of misinformation relating to Covid-19 on WhatsApp, the digital messaging platform owned by the US social networking giant. A spokeswoman for the company pointed to several features that it has rolled out in recent months to combat misinformation, but no extra measures are planned. The sharing of misinformation on WhatsApp, often in the form of a forwarded text, video or voice message, has been widely criticised in recent days as the State ramps up its response to the Covid-19 outbreak. The Facebook spokeswoman pointed to several measures it had put in place on Facebook and Instagram. “We’re focusing on claims where, if someone relies on the information, it makes them more likely to get sick or not get treatment.

Source: The Irish Times March 16, 2020 15:31 UTC