Countering COVID-19 Misinformation in Areas Affected by Conflict
THE CHALLENGE
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation hampered the efforts of government health ministries, local and international NGOs, and health workers to spread correct information about the symptoms and prevention of COVID-19. Misinformation also led to increased discrimination and violence against religious, ethnic, and other minorities as well as healthcare workers, as pernicious rumours about the source of the disease took hold in various communities. Misinformation about COVID-19 posed a significant threat to marginalized populations and those trying to help them and became crippling to the humanitarian aid sector as it sought to address this crisis.
THE SOLUTION
To counter harmful COVID-19 misinformation in the conflict-affected regions of Nigeria and Syria, the Global Strategy Network LTD deployed its innovative Murmurate technology to track the spread of misinformation within communities via social media. Using Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing, Murmurate was used to map COVID-19 conversations online, identifying misinformation that delivers false and damaging public health statements. These insights then drove the production and distribution of COVID-19 related counter messaging that used an established network of media organizations and channels including SMS, radio, news websites, and television reaching a wide audience every month. Throughout their CHIC funding period, the Global Strategy Network successfully collaborated with 3 implementing partners across both settings and trained local staff on the use of Murmurate to inform their communications campaigns. Over 300 communications campaigns were designed and launched based on information provided by Murmurate, with each campaign reaching an average of over 43,000 individuals, to positively shift perceptions and behaviours for COVID-19 mitigation.