Facebook has announced to remove false claims or conspiracy theories about Covid vaccines a day after the UK approved used of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in the country.
The social media tech giant said that any false claim to be posted on Facebook and Instagram by users will be removed once those claims are rejected by health experts.
The new rules have been introduced to more strengthen the existing policy of removing false claims about Covid-19.
“Given the recent news that Covid-19 vaccines will soon be rolling out around the world, over the coming weeks we will also start removing false claims about these vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts on Facebook and Instagram,” the Guardian quoted a company spokesperson as saying.
“This is another way that we are applying our policy to remove misinformation about the virus that could lead to imminent physical harm.”
Facebook said that content related to false claims about the safety, efficacy, ingredients or side effects of the vaccines will be targeted, adding that conspiracy theories about the medication will also be removed.
“Since it’s early, and facts about Covid-19 vaccines will continue to evolve, we will regularly update the claims we remove based on guidance from public health authorities as they learn more,” the spokesperson said.
In July, Facebook introduced its first policy of removing misinformation that could lead to physical harm to people.
As the coronavirus pandemic started in February, Facebook announced to ban advertisements for products offering any cures or prevention around the coronavirus outbreak, and those that create a sense of urgency around the situation.
