Facebook has announced that it will be banning ads that promise to cure, prevent or spread panic amongst users concerning coronavirus.
A Facebook spokesperson told Forbes it will also remove ads for products, especially those:
“That [refers] to the coronavirus and [creates] a sense of urgency, like implying a limited supply or guaranteeing a cure or prevention.”
To give an example, the spokesperson mentioned:
“ads with claims like face masks that are 100% guaranteed to prevent the spread of the virus will not be allowed.”
Facebook had earlier said on 1st January 2020 that it would remove misinformation about coronavirus. The company said this measure would also extend to Instagram.
However, the company had also said afterward that it won’t remove other false claims about the virus. Instead, it would fact-check, demote them in the news feed and point users to reliable information from the World Health Organization.
A number of ads with false cures have spread on Facebook in the past few months. One claims that drinking bleach can cure the virus, according to FactCheck.org.
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An abundance of caution
Facebook canceled its Global Marketing Summit in San Francisco in March due to Coronavirus. The summit usually attracts about 5,000 participants.
A spokesperson had said at the time:
“Out of an abundance of caution, we canceled our Global Marketing Summit due to evolving public health risks related to coronavirus.”
The numbers stand at 81,000 infections and more than 2,700 deaths due to the virus worldwide as of 27th February 2020.
For the first time, countries outside China are witnessing a daily spike in the number of infections than in China. The World Health Organization says its a significant development as new cases spread around the globe. South Korea, Italy, and Iran are the worst hit.
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