Facebook gives WHO free ads in battle with coronavirus

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Facebook gives World Health Organisation free ads and removes ‘false claims and conspiracy theories’ as it continues to battle coronavirus misinformation

  • Mark Zuckerberg has announced new measures in response to the virus
  • The network is providing WHO with support and ‘as many free ads as it needs’ 
  • A Facebook search for ‘coronavirus’ will also prioritise local health authorities

By Jonathan Chadwick For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Facebook has revealed more measures to help its users quickly access accurate information regarding the coronavirus outbreak.

The social network is providing the World Health Organisation (WHO) with ‘as many free ads as it needs’ for its coronavirus response.

It is also removing false claims and conspiracy theories that have been flagged by leading global health organisations, as it seeks to ensure users are not misinformed about the virus and its risks.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg detailed the new features in a post on Wednesday morning.

Users who search for coronavirus on Facebook will see a pop-up at the top of search results, directs them to the WHO or local health authority for the latest information.

In the case of UK-based users, this will be the NHS website.  

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pictured) said his website is ‘focused on making sure everyone can access credible and accurate information’

This pop-up, which links to the NHS website, appears at the top of search results when UK-based Facebook users search 'coronavirus' in the search bar

This pop-up, which links to the NHS website, appears at the top of search results when UK-based Facebook users search ‘coronavirus’ in the search bar

‘This is now a global challenge and we’ve spent the past month working with health authorities to coordinate our response,’ Zuckerberg said in the post. 

‘We’re focused on making sure everyone can access credible and accurate information. 

‘This is critical in any emergency, but it’s especially important when there are precautions you can take to reduce the risk of infection.’

The CEO also outlined efforts to stop hoaxes and harmful misinformation from appearing in users’ news feeds that capitalise on their concerns. 

These include false claims, conspiracy theories and ‘ads that try to exploit the situation’, such as those for face masks that advertise a ‘limited supply’ to boost sales.  

Facebook will be working with global health experts and give support and ‘millions more in ad credits’ to other organisations. 

'We recently implemented a policy to prohibit ads that refer to the coronavirus and create a sense of urgency, like implying a limited supply, or guaranteeing a cure or prevention,' a spokesperson for Facebook told Business Insider

'We recently implemented a policy to prohibit ads that refer to the coronavirus and create a sense of urgency, like implying a limited supply, or guaranteeing a cure or prevention,' a spokesperson for Facebook told Business Insider

‘We recently implemented a policy to prohibit ads that refer to the coronavirus and create a sense of urgency, like implying a limited supply, or guaranteeing a cure or prevention,’ a spokesperson for Facebook told Business Insider

In February, the company said it would ban advertisements for products offering any cures or prevention around the coronavirus outbreak, and those that create a sense of urgency around the situation.

Facebook had to cancel its annual F8 developers, which was due to take place in May, because of the virus. 

The latest figures for coronavirus cases worldwide stands at nearly 93,000 infections, with more than 3,100 deaths. 

Other social media platforms have been taking steps to improve their coverage of the virus, officially called COVID-19. 

Searches on Pinterest for ‘coronavirus’ take users to a curated web page, while WHO launched an account on video app TikTok late last week.

Google also teamed up with the WHO to launch an SOS Alert dedicated to the coronavirus at the end of January. 

The search engine prioritises information on the virus from the WHO, including safety tips and WHO Twitter updates on the spread of the virus and how to stay safe.   

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR 

 What is this virus?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been identified as a new type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of pathogens, most of which cause mild lung infections such as the common cold.

But coronaviruses can also be deadly. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is caused by a coronavirus and killed hundreds of people in China and Hong Kong in the early 2000s.

Can the Wuhan coronavirus kill?

Yes – more than 2,700 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus.

What are the symptoms?

The infection which the virus causes has been named COVID-19. Some people who catch it may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache.

Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. 

And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs.

How is it detected?

The virus’s genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China and countries around the world have used this to create lab tests, which must be carried out to confirm an infection.

Delays to these tests, to test results and to people getting to hospitals in China, mean the number of confirmed cases is expected to be just a fraction of the true scale of the outbreak.  

How did it start and spread?

The first cases identified were among people connected to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan.

Cases have since been identified around China and are known to have spread from person to person.

What are countries doing to prevent the spread?

Countries all over the world have banned foreign travellers from crossing their borders if they have been to China within the past two weeks. Many airlines have cancelled or drastically reduced flights to and from mainland China.

Is it similar to anything we’ve ever seen before?

Experts have compared it to the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The epidemic started in southern China and killed more than 700 people in mainland China, Hong Kong and elsewhere.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MAILONLINE’S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS