Coronavirus: Facebook Gives WHO Free Ads To Combat Misinformation

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday said the social media platform will free advertisements to the World Health Organization (WHO) as it seeks to ensure users are not misinformed about the novel coronavirus. In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg said that the WHO will get free ads and “millions more in ad credits” to other organizations too. Zuckerberg also said the company will remove “false claims and conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organizations.” 

“We’re also blocking people from running ads that try to exploit the situation — for example, claiming that their product can cure the disease,” he added. 

Facebook has previously taken other measures to fight virus hoaxes and misinformation, including removing false claims and conspiracy theories and showing users a pop-up directing them to the World Health Orgnization or their local health authority for the latest information.

Over 3,200 people have now died from the novel coronavirus outbreak across the world. Whereas, more than 93,100 confirmed cases of Coronavirus have been reported so far. According to China's National Health Commission, the overall death count in the mainland has crossed over 3,000. The COVID-19 outbreak emerged late last year in Hubei in central China, but has now spread to more than 60 countries around the world.

South Korea reported 142 more novel coronavirus cases on Wednesday, a significantly lower increase than the day before, taking its total to 5,328 -- the largest in the world outside China.

In the United States, nine people have died so far due to coronavirus. The World Health Organisation said that the virus appears to particularly hit those over the age of 60 and people already weakened by other illness. 

In India, 28 people have been tested positive. All the seaports and airports have been put under high alert. 

(With Agency Inputs)