TikTok has become the latest platform trafficking in misinformation and conspiracy theories about the coronavirus
citing multiple videos on TikTok that circulate baseless claims and debunked theories about the widening health crisis. Some falsely assert that former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates is somehow connected with the virus outbreak through his nonprofit organization’s funding of the Pirbright Institute in the U.K.
The research institute, which monitors diseases that infect farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans, published a statement addressing the misinformation. Pirbright says it holds a patent that covers the development of a weakened strain of the coronavirus, which could potentially be used in a vaccine to prevent birds and other animals from developing the respiratory disease.
The app, popular among teens, said in a blog post that it would work with third-party fact-checking and media literacy organizations, such as the Poynter Institute, which had previously faulted TikTok for its“Our Community Guidelines do not permit misinformation that could cause harm to our community or the larger public,” said a TikTok spokesperson.
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