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Fighting the 'Infodemic': Legal Responses to COVID-19 Disinformation
Roxana Radu1,2
1University of Oxford, UK.
Social Media + Society
|June 30, 2021
Summary
Governments worldwide enacted laws to combat COVID-19 disinformation, impacting media freedom and online censorship. These measures aim to balance public health with freedom of expression, but may have unintended consequences for information access.
Area of Science:
- Digital Media Studies
- Law and Society
- Public Health Communication
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a surge in online disinformation, termed an "infodemic."
- Digital platforms became both sources and solutions for misinformation during the health crisis.
- Combating online disinformation emerged as a critical public health priority.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the effects of legislation targeting COVID-19 disinformation on traditional and digital media.
- To analyze the balance between freedom of expression and online censorship in emergency contexts.
- To discuss the intended and unintended consequences of legal responses to the infodemic.
Main Methods:
- Comparative legal analysis of newly passed legislation in various countries.
- Examination of government measures, including content takedown guidance, specialized disinformation units, and criminalization of falsehoods.
- Assessment of impacts on media operations and information access.
Main Results:
- Governments implemented diverse strategies, from content moderation guidance to criminal penalties for COVID-19 falsehoods.
- Emergency legislation has introduced limitations on information access and encouraged self-censorship in reporting.
- Early actions indicate a complex negotiation between public health imperatives and freedom of speech.
Conclusions:
- Legal responses to the infodemic present challenges to the balance between freedom of expression and online censorship.
- Unintended consequences of these laws may affect media trust and information accessibility.
- Safeguards are essential to preserve trust in online information during public health crises.
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