NEW YORK: Facebook has lifted a ban on posts claiming COVID-19 was man-made or manufactured, a move that acknowledges the renewed debate about the virus’ origins.
The social network said its new policy comes in light of ongoing investigations into the origin. “In consultation with public health experts, we will no longer remove the claim that COVID-19 is man-made from our apps,” said a Facebook spokeswoman.
“We’re continuing to work with health experts to keep pace with the evolving nature of the pandemic and regularly update our policies as new facts and trends emerge,” the company spokeswoman added.
The rule change comes as US President Joe Biden announced he has ordered aides to find answers to the origin of the virus. He said that US intelligence agencies are pursuing rival theories potentially including the possibility of a laboratory accident in China.
According to a report, US intelligence sources believe there is some evidence to warrant further investigation of the “lab leak” theory. The report said three staff members at the Wuhan Institute for Virology sought hospital treatment for flu-like symptoms in November 2019. Others have criticised the reporting, noting that it still relies on circumstantial evidence and speculation.
Social media companies have faced pressure to combat health misinformation on their sites during the pandemic. Facebook has said it has removed more than 16 million pieces of content from its apps for breaking rules on COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation.
COVID-19 has killed more than 3.6 million people worldwide. The first reported cases emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 but the origin of the virus remains contested among experts.
