Ads have been floating around facebook promising a cure for Coronavirus, but facebook stepped out to ban the ads that that promise to cure, prevent, or otherwise incite panic around COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus
”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,” the company told Business Insider, “We also have policies for surfaces like Marketplace that prohibit similar behavior.”
About a month ago, the company announced that it would be removing misinformation about the new coronavirus both Facebook and Instagram. the policy was set to include any content about fake cures or prevention methods, or misleading claims about what health resources are available, but they didn’t specify anything about advertisement on the platforms, but this does
”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”
This isn’t the first time Facebook has done this in fact, last year, Facebook said that it would remove anti-vaccine groups and pages from its recommendations
”Our policy is to ban ads containing vaccine misinformation,” Facebook told Buzzfeed News at the time, adding that its policy does not ban advertising “on the basis that it expresses opposition to vaccines.”
Other aspects that lead to Facebook being criticized included allowing misinformation in political campaign ads. Earlier this year, the company justified its “warts and all”.
