For years, there have been groups and profiles on Facebook that spread conspiracy theories, false information and misinformation about vaccines that are not blocked by the platform, which has argued this decision based on freedom of thought and free expression. However, the new policy, triggered by the risk of spreading false information about vaccines, especially in a pandemic period, sets out to block these groups.
As part of the new Covid-19 policy, Facebook will remove posts with false claims about vaccines, the company announced on Monday.
"We will start implementing this policy immediately, with a particular focus on sites, groups and accounts that violate these rules," said Guy Rosen, who oversees content decisions. "We will continue to expand our implementation over the coming weeks."
The new policy started in April 2020, when Facebook decided to direct users to secure sources for every post about Covid and vaccines.
Groups, sites, and profiles that spread false information will be deleted and / or blocked. The new policy promises to create a platform without dangerous content filled with baseless conspiracy theories which go viral and circulate everywhere.
Facebook has long been accused of allowing dangerous content, such as Holocaust denial or exposing children to pedophilia .
