The Coronavirus - What's the Biggest Loss?

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The focus in the US is almost entirely about political disinformation on Facebook. In the rest of the world, it's health and science misinformation on closed messaging apps. The coronavirus has made people recognize that this is much more complex than fake news or Russian bots. What works in Brazil, works in America, and it's all about tapping into human fears. It's about tapping into groups and outgroups.

How can tech companies help flatten the curve? First and foremost, they must address the lethal misinformation and disinformation circulating on their platforms. The problem goes much deeper than fake news, according to Claire Wardle, co-founder and executive director of First Draft. She studies the gray zones of information warfare, where bad actors mix facts with falsehoods, news with gossip, and sincerity with satire. “Most of this stuff isn't fake and most of this stuff isn't news,” Claire argues. If these subtler forms of misinformation go unaddressed, tech companies may not only fail to flatten the curve — they could raise it higher.