Combating the Disinfodemic: Working for Truth in the Time of COVID-19

COVID-19 has led to a parallel pandemic of disinformation that directly impacts lives and livelihoods around the world. Falsehoods and misinformation have proven deadly and sowed confusion about life-saving personal and policy choices.

UNESCO has published two policy briefs offering critical insights into the fast-growing COVID-19-related disinformation that is impeding access to trustworthy sources and reliable information.

These are:

DISINFODEMIC: Deciphering COVID-19 disinformation: assesses 9 types of coronavirus disinformation, four format modes, and it identifies 10 categories of response being mobilised – often with freedom of expression implications around the world.

DISINFODEMIC: Dissecting responses to COVID-19 disinformation: critically analyses 10 types of response to the viral spread of COVID-19 disinformation. Responses target one or more of the four points of the disinformation life cycle: namely production, transmission, reception and reproduction. This brief assesses the responses that: work to cut the supply of production; that filter disinformation during transmission; and help inoculate targets from reception; and prevent viral re-circulation. The assessment looks at these responses holistically and in relation to impact on the right to freedom of expression, access to information and privacy.

Last modified: July 21, 2020

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