It must be true – I saw it on the internet

Can we defeat the misinformation virus? Efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic are being undermined by fake news and scams – and it is not the first crisis to be aggravated in this way. For those who knew anything about Bill GatesFounder and former CEO of Microsoft, the company responsible for popularising household computers in the 80s (and still one of the major global tech companies). His house on the shores of Lake Washington is called Xanadu 2.0. It took seven years to build and is seen as an early example of a smart home., the message on social media was surprising to say the least. "I'm a strong believer that there is a spiritual purpose to everything that happens," he wrote, sharing his thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic, that all of us are connected and must help each other. Did this really come from the geeky tycoon, famous for his ruthless attitude to business? The answer is no, it did not. The post - shared thousands of times, even on newspaper websites - had been written by somebody else and circulated under Gates's name. It was just one example of the explosion of misleading information during the present crisis. A fake message telling people to stay indoors because helicopters are spraying disinfectant to eradicateTo get rid of something completely or destroy something bad. the coronavirus has appeared in Britain, Kenya, Italy, Russia, and Nepal. A video purportingAppear to be or do something, especially falsely. to show a man being arrested by Italian police for ignoring the lockdown has been shared 750,000 times in India - but, actually, shows a man being arrested in Brazil for something completely different. In some cases, criminals have been trying to make money from their deceptions. People have received messages - apparently, sent by the police - telling them that they have to pay a fine for leaving home without a good reason. Rumours abound about the origins of Covid-19. Some claim that the virus was created in a Chinese laboratory and deliberately allowed to spread; others blame the US. Then there is the false advice about combating the virus. Taking hot baths, avoiding ice cream, and even drinking particles of silver have all been wrongly toutedTalked about repeatedly. as ways of escaping infection. Now, governments are asking social media companies to help stop such rumours from spreading, while a charity called the Centre for Countering Digital Hate has launched a "Don't Spread the Virus" campaign. It encourages people to report misinformation instead of sharing it. "Some of it is produced by extremists seeking to undermine faith in government and experts, some by grifters seeking to sell false cures," says the head of CCDH, Imran Ahmed. "And some are just sadly misinformed and think they're doing the right thing by spreading the wrong advice." Can we defeat the misinformation virus? Words as wildfire Some say that the social media which spreads misinformation so effectively can also be used to stop it. Experts can trace the origins of a post and then prove that it is fake. For example, in a video allegedly showing patients lying on the floor of an Israeli hospital, the logos on their sheets and pillows proved that it was actually filmed in Spain. Others argue that every time a rumour is scotched, a new one springs up to replace it. Besides, people who accept misinformation often believe that governments and media companies are conspiring to hide the truth, so they will be reluctant to believe any counter evidence. Nor would they dream of taking part in a campaign like "Don't Spread the Virus", which has government support. KeywordsBill Gates - Founder and former CEO of Microsoft, the company responsible for popularising household computers in the 80s (and still one of the major global tech companies). His house on the shores of Lake Washington is called Xanadu 2.0. It took seven years to build and is seen as an early example of a smart home.