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World faces misinformation epidemic over coronavirus, U.N. chief says

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:54 am
by snafu
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that the world is facing “a dangerous epidemic of misinformation” about COVID-19 and announced a U.N. campaign to flood the internet with facts and science to counter what he called “a poison” that is putting lives at risk.

I totally agree.

:!: However I question WHO an what UNhumanitarian organization(s) are spreading and demanding adherence to the false information.


He called for trust in science and in institutions “grounded in responsive, responsible, evidence-based governance and leadership.”

:!: The problem the information you are telling us are not backed up by the actual numbers. Plus when a person can clearly die of a heart-attack, obvious to any sane rational person with any medical knowledge, but because of the opinion of the medical staff the person MIGHT have been infected with covid-19 it is reported he died of covid19 complications, thus inflating the covid death numbers.
:idea: of course receiving an extra $13,000 +/- for each covid patient would not encourage hospitals to declare more people infected would it? especially since a lab test is not required.

“Together, let’s reject the lies and nonsense out there,” Guterres said. “With common cause for common sense and facts, we can defeat COVID-19 — and build a healthier, more equitable, just and resilient world.”

:!: again I agree, but I suspect they would not like the house cleaning procedures I am in favor of executing to remove the lairs and thieves from all levels of the UN to local level governments around the planet.


copied from:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=news&p=2579918


World faces misinformation epidemic over coronavirus, U.N. chief says
AP

Apr 15, 2020


United Nations – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that the world is facing “a dangerous epidemic of misinformation” about COVID-19 and announced a U.N. campaign to flood the internet with facts and science to counter what he called “a poison” that is putting lives at risk.

The U.N. chief decried what he described as a global “misinfo-demic” that is spreading harmful health advice, “snake-oil solutions,” falsehoods, and wild conspiracy theories.


Guterres urged social media organizations to do more to counter the misinformation and to “root out hate and harmful assertions about COVID-19.”

“Hatred is going viral, stigmatizing and vilifying people and groups,” he said in a video statement. “Mutual respect and upholding human rights must be our compass in navigating this crisis.”
The U.N. chief said people around the world “are scared” and want to know what to do and where to turn for advice, and they need science.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressed the importance of accurate information,

He said the United Nations “will be in touch with various social media companies,” adding that quite a few of them are actively trying to root out disinformation and suspending accounts of people pushing out information “that is plain wrong and dangerous.”

Dujarric said the U.N. recognizes the delicate balance between free speech and misinformation, saying “that’s a balancing act that is played out every day around the world even in the most free democracies.”

“The secretary-general is not going to be the one to decide,” Dujarric said.

“What we are doing is we will push out scientifically based information, information that will help us as a global community fight the virus,” he said. “Social media companies, news organizations are making those decisions all the time, but I think it is important that we all do what we can to fight the spread of dangerous misinformation on fighting the virus.”

The secretary-general saluted “journalists and others fact-checking the mountain of misleading stories and social media posts.”

He called for trust in science and in institutions “grounded in responsive, responsible, evidence-based governance and leadership.”

“Together, let’s reject the lies and nonsense out there,” Guterres said. “With common cause for common sense and facts, we can defeat COVID-19 — and build a healthier, more equitable, just and resilient world.”