A crack team to combat “interference and disinformation” pertaining to the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 is being set up in the UK amid concerns that fake news about the epidemic is fraught with confusion, the British government announced on Monday, APA reports citing Sputnik.
“Defending the country from misinformation and digital interference is a top priority,” said Digital and Culture Minister Oliver Dowden in a statement.
With units from across Whitehall assembled to “identify and respond” to the dissemination of fake news, Downing Street said the counter-disinformation team would act to “establish the extent and impact of false or manipulated information” aimed at misleading people “either for the purposes of causing harm, or for political, personal or financial gain”.
“This work includes regular engagement with the social media companies, which are well placed to monitor interference and limit the spread of disinformation, and will make sure we are on the front foot to act if required,” said Oliver Dowden.
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