Coronavirus: Facebook, YouTube race to squash fake ‘Plandemic’ documentary
- The video propagates coronavirus conspiracy theories, which could encourage viewers to ignore public health recommendations
- It centres on interviews with Judy Milkovits, whose false claims include the allegation that wealthy people are intentionally spreading the virus
Within days, the 26-minute video had spread like wildfire, racking up millions of views and attracting legions of new fans. The video, called “Plandemic,” looks like a serious documentary, with well-shot interviews intercut with news footage and ominous music. But it propagates coronavirus conspiracy theories, which could encourage viewers to ignore public health recommendations or attempt ineffective or dangerous treatments for the viral infection.
Medical misinformation has proliferated on the major social media platforms for years, especially around the topic of vaccine safety. The platforms have pledged to more strongly enforce misinformation policies, but the task has proven difficult for companies whose services are designed to allow users to reach large audiences with little oversight. But the coronavirus crisis has been especially fertile ground for conspiracy theorising, inspiring viral videos spinning tales of international intrigue and profiteering cabals since nearly its inception.
The “Plandemic” video centres on interviews with a researcher named Judy Milkovits, whose false claims include the allegation that wealthy people are intentionally spreading the novel coronavirus to increase vaccination rates in the population at large and that wearing a mask can actually worsen viral symptoms.