Twitter To Delete Tweets Spreading Misinformation About COVID-19 Vaccine

Twitter is cracking down on misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. On Wednesday, the social network said that starting December 21, it may ask users to delete tweets that “advance harmful false or misleading statements about COVID-19 vaccination.” Some of these narratives include false claims that vaccines are used to harm or control people, or that the COVID-19 vaccine is unnecessary.

Twitter said in a blog post that it will prioritize measures to combat misleading information about the COVID-19 vaccine that may cause the most harm.

The company also said that in early 2021, it will begin labeling or placing warnings on tweets that promote vaccine rumors, misleading, incomplete, or out-of-context information. These tags can lead people to understand accurate health information or Twitter rules. The move occurred under the impact of social networks including Facebook and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and the new coronavirus. 

Earlier this month, Facebook said it would remove false claims about the COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the United States, but the vaccine is not expected to be available to the general public until mid-2021.