Science Disinformation

Science Disinformation in a Time of Pandemic

By drawing parallels to elections, climate change and the anti-vaccination movement, author Christopher Dornan illustrates how disinformation about COVID-19 can pose significant risks for public health, social cohesion and collective trust. Dornan identifies several useful recommendations for citizens, governments and social media platforms to consider to effectively combat disinformation and engage in evidence-based discussion about scientific findings.

Science Disinformation in a Time of Pandemic

Disinformation can stymie policy responses to public health, environmental threats and crises. COVID-19 provides a unique albeit troublesome opportunity to investigate phenomena like the erosion and corrosion of public trust through the spread of disinformation and misinformation (the former purposeful, the latter flowing from ignorance). PPF is working with partners and its members to understand the nature of the problem of science and health mis- and disinformation in Canada, map the range of current proposed solutions, and build the conceptual framework for new policy pathways to address the issues.