Facebook has begun scrutinizing groups on the social network where users rant against wearing face masks as recommended by medical experts trying to stem the coronavirus pandemic.
“Unmasking America,” a group dedicated to spreading the supposed “truth” about masks, was removed for violating Facebook’s misinformation policies, The Verge first reported Monday.
More than 9,600 users belonged to the group before it disappeared, the tech site reported, making it among the largest assemblages on the social network of “anti-mask” advocates.
Prior to being taken down, the “About” section of the Facebook group described it as a place for users “to help spread the TRUTH about masks” and their purported “dangers.”
Facebook spokesperson Dami Oyefeso told The Washington Times the group was vanished for violating policies the company put in place earlier this year to prevent the spread of misinformation about COVID-19, the infectious disease the coronavirus causes, adding that similar groups on the social network risk following suit.
“We have clear policies against promoting harmful misinformation about COVID-19 and have removed this group while we review the others,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Several groups with similar names but fewer members remained active as of Tuesday, including “Unmask America,” “Unmask America” and “Stop Masking America,” however.
People carrying the virus can transmit it to others in droplets expelled when they speak, cough or sneeze, making face masks and similar coverings ideal for mitigating the pandemic.
“Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting,” Centers for Infectious Disease Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield said last week. “All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families and their communities.”
In archived captures of the since-removed Facebook group, users can be seen complaining about efforts to make people wear masks in public in-between posting related misinformation. One post in which a user shared an image that falsely claimed “wearing a mask puts you at higher risk” had been shared by dozens of other users, for example.
Facebook began prohibiting misinformation that could contribute to physical harm in 2018, and in January they updated that policy to specifically cover coronavirus misinformation.
More recently, Facebook announced in April it would begin alert users who previously engaged with prohibited coronavirus misinformation that was later removed from the platform.
Rep. Adam B. Schiff, California Democrat and chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, subsequently encouraged other social media companies to do the same.
More than 14.7 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide since the infectious disease was discovered late last year, according to Johns Hopkins University.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
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