NHS England is implementing a series of measures to tackle fake news regarding COVID-19 online and direct users to genuine health information.
The NHS is working hard to take on bad advice and misinformation about COVID-19 being circulated in the media and online. Some of these measures include getting Twitter to suspend false accounts posing as hospitals and denouncing homeopaths who promote false therapies.
The NHS has collaborated with Google to provide easy access to verified NHS guidance when someone does a web search for coronavirus. Additionally, it is working with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to verify or ‘blue tick’ hundreds of accounts that belong to various NHS organisations including hospital trusts and local commissioning groups.
NHS and Google are set to introduce new Knowledge Panels which are prominent information boxes displayed in mobile Google search results to help the UK audience access genuine NHS information on >250 health conditions including COVID-19.
Health Secretary, Matt Hancock said: "Today’s actions are another important step so members of the public can access reliable, accurate health information, which is more crucial than ever as we continue our response to coronavirus."
