Old hatreds fuel online misinformation about COVID-19 in South Asia

Publication Year
2020
Publisher
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Abstract

In countries like India, which has a sizable Muslim minority population, the false stories circulating about the pandemic have mostly blamed that community for COVID-19’s rapid progression. In majority Muslim countries like Pakistan, popular clerics and others have claimed Muslims are immune to getting sick. The various strains of misinformation are making it harder for health authorities to actually tamp down on the spreading virus.

Publication Topic
Politics and Public Opinion
Publication Type
Policy Article