Google will allocate $ 6, 500 000 to combat misinformation about coronavirus

When it comes to a potentially fatal respiratory disease like COVID-19, accurate and reliable

information may be the very edgebetween life and death. In this regard, Google has allocated $6.5 million to organizations that fight misinformation around the world. Particular attention will be paid to news about coronavirus.

Why is this necessary?

Such measures are especially important now whenMost people sit at home and spend their leisure time online. Unscrupulous media and speculators take advantage of this, cutting off views, fueling panic and not thinking about the possible consequences. And if frightened people are angry enough and gather in crowds, terrorist attacks begin in medical centers, stoning of potentially infected people, mass rallies for health, and other nonsense. Google's goal is to avoid such situations.

How will they fight

Additional funding will be receivednon-profit organizations like Full Fact and Maldita.es, they will focus on the European countries that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19. Google will also provide support to journalists: a database on the topic will be created, training will be conducted and modeling of possible crises will be carried out. The news aggregator Google News will not be ignored; a special fact-checking page will be added there in the COVID-19 section.

Source: Engadget

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