A Perth and Kinross MP is supporting the fight against dangerous coronavirus disinformation.
Ochil and South Perthshire MP John Nicolson has backed the launch of Infotagion - an expert-led fact-checking service which verifies claims on COVID-19 against independent, trusted and official sources, including public health services and the World Health Service.
The free-to-use toll was founded by Damian Collins MP, former chair of the House of Commons digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) select committee.
It was launched on Monday by cross-party MPs, academics and anti-disinformation activists.
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The service will expose the disinformation being spread across social media and private channels like WhatsApp and closed Facebook groups.
Mr Nicolson, recently appointed to the DCMS select committee, said: “Harmful narratives on the internet, particularly regarding the coronavirus pandemic, are spreading as rapidly as the virus itself.
Freedom of speech is a crucial tenet of our democracy, but as both a journalist and a Member of Parliament, I understand all too well the responsibility we must take for the information we put out into the world.”
See infotagion.com/
