Overcoming the 'infodemic' in Asean

SPREADING at least as quickly as the Covid-19 virus, an “infodemic” has infected large swaths of media and information exchange across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Massive amounts of information, including rumors, mis-information and dis-information have reached millions of people who are hoping to understand how to stay safe until the pandemic has been controlled. High levels of uncertainty are driving people to look for any information about the virus and what to do about it.

Fake news has ranged from misinformation about which tests are needed for proper diagnosis (PCR or antigen) to fear-inducing rumors that motivate people to make the wrong decisions.