In times of crisis such as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, gatekeepers of information, such as international organisations and the media, need to renew their focus on countering disinformation and encouraging research in the social, economic, and environmental spheres, to allow for effective and sustainable post-pandemic recovery.
UNESCO is responding to the pandemic by promoting expanded access to information, through a range of activities that include:
- the publication titled: Journalism, 'Fake News' and Disinformation, available in multiple languages, which assists journalists and other stakeholders to identify and deal with false information;
- the Covid-19 Universal REsource gateway (CURE) that aggregates verified openly-licensed information on the pandemic from different sources; and
- the #DontGoViral online campaign which harnesses the creativity and influence of innovators and artists by crowdsourcing and amplifying crucial and accurate information.
On 13 April 2020, Bhanu Neupane, Programme Specialist at UNESCO, highlighted UNESCO’s work on disinformation at a webinar entitled “Preparedness and Response: Global Perspectives on Covid-19” hosted by the Asbar Center for Studies, Research and Media- Participants observed that accurate and widely disseminated information on the global situation and ongoing research is necessary to keep the public updated and educated on appropriate precautions and provide incentives to adhere to public health advisories.
Simultaneously, open access to scientific papers can accelerate research towards a vaccine. Dr Adnan Nawar Khistawi, Epidemiology and Virology expert from the World Health Organisation (WHO), highlighted that data and information are essential to enable countries to formulate their responses to the ongoing crisis.
Emerging Complexities in the Information Landscape
The discussion also called attention to emerging complications for information users. Some major challenges include information overload, and how to ensure prioritization of important information in opposition to disinformation, such as inaccurate health advice and misleading speculations of the virus’ origins. These challenges risk entailing confusion, dangerous behaviours, and a polarisation of society.
The discussants further highlighted the need for new kinds of information that encompasses the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainable development, in order to move forward as the pandemic subsides.
For example, information on available social and economic support measures can help provide security to the public, calm people’s anxieties and ensure safe ways to handle medical waste – which is rapidly increasing due to the crisis – in order to prevent risk of infection spread.
The webinar was moderated by Dr. Nazeeh Alothmany, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Dr Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, was also present.
Ways Forward
To recover and move ahead from this unprecedented global crisis, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Assistant Director-General for Global Health, Antibiotic Resistance Affairs of WHO, stressed that global solidarity is essential. In the field of information, governments and other stakeholders need to continue to commit to sharing of.
At the close of the webinar, there was a general consensus that the world’s information regime needs to be fortified against disinformation, and that all actors involved need to refocus on key areas of research. This measure is crucial to truly harness the power of information in moving forward from this crisis and developing greater resilience against similar future events.
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