Facebook is cracking down on ads that mention a cure for coronavirus.
Angela Lang/CNET
Facebook is cracking down those hoping to profit on the misinformation and fearmongering by tightening the rules on ads that mention the coronavirus. The social networking giant will specifically ban ads that mention a cure or preventative measures for the disease.
“We recently implemented a policy to prohibit ads that refer to the coronavirus and create a sense of urgency, like implying a limited supply, or guaranteeing a cure or prevention,” a Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider. “We also have policies for surfaces like Marketplace that prohibit similar behavior.”
The new rules mirror steps Facebook took in 2019 to curb the spread of misinformation about vaccines, demoting the ranking of groups or pages that spread misinformation about vaccines on its News Feed and in search results. Facebook will also reject ads that include misinformation about vaccines and won’t allow advertisers to target users interested in topics such as “vaccine controversies.”
The novel coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China, and cases have been confirmed in the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia. Over the weekend, worries increased about the global spread of the virus as South Korea’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 spiked to over 600, and WHO reported 67 new cases in Italy.
The spread of the virus is also taking a toll on the global technology industry, with companies shuttering stores and offices, limiting travel and bracing for disruptions to supply chains. Coronavirus fears led Facebook to call off a March marketing summit in San Francisco that was expected to draw 4,000 people. In Barcelona, the Mobile World Conference scheduled for earlier in February was also canceled.
Facebook representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.