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How to filter misinformation if it comes from official sources?

The instant dissemination of information through social networks and instant messengers is one of the signs of the modern era. There is little censorship on the Internet, so important information is spread through the virus, covering a huge audience in a matter of hours or minutes.

Each one sets up their own “information filter” to filter out sources that are not trustworthy. People are gradually learning to do this. Facebook and Twitter, at the request of regulators, recruit moderators and remove fakes, for example, about the harm of vaccines. But some commentators believe that these attempts are doomed to failure . It is generally impossible to completely filter out disinformation on a large scale, even theoretically.

For example, it is very difficult to combat misinformation coming from official sources.and now there’s a lot of this lie. Governments lie to their people, and WHO experts mislead people around the world.

Perhaps censorship by Internet companies does more harm than good? What to do in this situation? Who can be trusted?

On March 16, Twitter posted a change to the rules in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes include the following statement:

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It would seem a logical position. But what if "authoritative sources" themselves disseminate incorrect information? For example, the World Health Organization still recommends not wearing masks unless you are sick or care for a sick person . WHO reaffirmed its recommendations on March 31, 2020, in the midst of a pandemic.


Similar recommendations are distributed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC):


And even the head of the Health Service Officer Corps (US Surgeon General):


But as Professor Zeynep Tufeki explains well in the NY Times , these recommendations come from good intentions, but in fact they are incorrect and even give the opposite effect, that is, they cause harm.

Apparently, WHO and officials are trying to contain the panic and prevent a shortage of masks, which are absolutely necessary for doctors, sick patients and contact persons. Masks are now in short supply, so the authorities want to convince the population that healthy people do not need them.

Although this is a lie for the good, but it is still a lie, that is, clear misinformation:

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In addition, there is strong scientific evidence that even home-made masks help slow down the spread of COVID-19. Here is an illustration from a 2008 study on the effectiveness of masks to protect themselves and others from respiratory infections:



What should a content moderator do in such a situation? The government explicitly and unequivocally states that you should not wear a mask until you are sick. Although the analysis shows that in this situation the authorities are forced to take such a position to reduce the hype and stop the panic. That is, it looks like deliberate misinformation.

The research and opinions of some experts contradict the official position of WHO and the CDC. According to the new rules, does Twitter have to censor and remove scientific research on the effectiveness of masks? Should they be considered "harmful"?

It is even more difficult to sort out the controversial discussions about potential cures for coronavirus. Several new and existing drugs are being tested, including chloroquine . But when Trump mentioned chloroquine as a real medicine, his fans literally flooded social networks. How to distinguish reports of real scientific research from thoughtless propaganda? What if the president himself broadcasts the misinformation?

These are really difficult questions, because according to the rules, the president is also considered an “authoritative source”, and censorship attempts can be regarded as “intrigues of the enemies”.

While WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the head of the Health Services Officer Corps, and the US president are capable of broadcasting misinformation, how can simple moderators of social media content magically distinguish truth from lies?

It turns out that the full moderation of fakes on social networks is an impossible task. You can fight them and remove the most obvious lie. But social networks are unlikely to dare to filter out the misinformation that the country's top officials are spreading through state channels.




. PKI- GlobalSign . : sales-ru@globalsign.com.

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