This time last month I wrote about how the current novel coronavirus pandemic may be forcing the hand of social media platforms to do better at combating fake news, including both mis-and-disinformation — a distinction that indicates intention (from the latter) to deceive.

Critics have been calling on the giants of the web to be more proactive and firm on fakery for, well, ages. Recently Facebook (which also owns Whatsapp and Instagram) has made a number of statements about ramping up its efforts in this area, and none too soon: these channels (particularly the first two) are prime contributors to the tidal wave of false and falsified information that comes at internet users on a daily basis...

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