Countering Disinformation in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been followed by the large-scale dissemination of false or misleading information. In response, governments, international organizations, enterprises (including digital platforms such as Facebook or Twitter) as well as citizens' initiatives (including fact-checking activities) have been developing various methods of countering online disinformation. The paper shows the results of exploratory-descriptive research. Its main objective is to present an overview of leading anti-disinformation initiatives undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic by the public, private and non-governmental sectors. The paper also describes the emerging system of combating online propaganda, basing on the theoretical framework of the internet governance perspective.