Breitbart's video touted misinformation about hydroxychloroquine being a cure for COVID-19 was further tweeted by the US President and his eldest son.
A video published on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube by right-winged platform Breitbart showed members of the group America's frontline doctors promote hydroxychloroquine both as a preventative measure and as a cure for COVID-19. The video had been shared on Twitter by US President Donald Trump and his son Donald Trump Jr. According to data from the Facebook-owned social media analytics tool- CrowdTangle, the video garnered more than 17 million views.
Hydroxychloroquine(HCQ) is a well-known treatment for malaria. The WHO says there is currently no proof that HCQ or any other drug can cure or prevent COVID-19. The misuse of hydroxychloroquine can cause serious side effects/ illness and even lead to death, according to the WHO.
The video had been taken down from Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Business Insider quoted a Twitter representative saying tweets with the video violated the platform's COVID-19 misinformation policy. Facebook representative Andy Stone tweeted about removing the video for sharing false information about cures and treatments of COVID-19. Following the incident, Twitter also banned Donald Trump Jr from tweeting for 12 hours.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.
Copied!