Facebook will begin removing fake claims and conspiracy theories about the new coronavirus, stepping up efforts to fight the spread of misinformation about a viral outbreak from China that has killed more than 200.
The spread of the virus, which has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, is the latest test of social networks' ability to rein in false and dangerous claims. Facebook cited the drinking of bleach as one spurious cure claim that has been circulating, saying it will "start to remove content with false claims or conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations and local health authorities that could cause harm to people who believe them."
The company has an existing policy of removing content deemed a threat to users' physical harm, and has used that policy in the past to remove vaccine-related misinformation, though in rare cases.