Google donates $6.5 million to fight misinformation around covid-19

NEW DELHI: Google has pledged $6.5 million to support efforts by fact checkers and non-profits working across the world on busting fake news and misinformation around novel coronavirus infection.

Misinformation around cornavirus and covid-19 is rampant, with reports of people trying various things to cure the disease influenced by videos, stories and messages involving food, medicines, and chemicals not approved by medical community.

Several social media platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, used widely to spread misinformation, have incorporated chatbots in collaboration with trusted hospitals, World Health Organization, and local and central governments to answer queries related to covid-19.