Dominican College of

Tarlac
College of Computer Studies

FABRICATED NEWS
INFORMATION ABOUT
COVID-19
In partial fulfillment
for the requirements in the subject GE8: ETHICS

Cunanan, John Angelo C.

Galindo, Jervie
Remigio, Chantel Vhin C.
Malit, Jade Webster P.
Mallari, Jun Bladimir
Ocampo, Lalesca A
Pascual, Angel Joy M.

SECTION
BSIT 1-D

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 Dominican College of
Tarlac
College of Computer Studies

INTRODUCTION

Since the coronavirus health emergency was declared, many fake news stories have
circulated around this topic, including rumors, conspiracy theories, and myths. According
to the World Economic Forum, fake news is one of the threats in today's societies since
this type of information circulates quickly and is often inaccurate and misleading.
Moreover, fake news is far more widely shared than evidence-based news among social
media users, and thus, this can potentially lead to decisions that do not consider the
individual’s best interests. Fake news has been spreading alarmingly during the COVID-
19 pandemic, leaving a multitude of victims struggling with false information. People
frequently fall for false statements about the virus's origins, transmission, and possible
treatments because they are afraid and uncertain. These victims might have
unintentionally disseminated misleading information, leading to public fear and impeding
attempts to effectively contain the pandemic. Conspiracy theories and unproven cures,
Cristina Rodríguez (2020)

As the new coronavirus disease propagated around the world, the rapid spread of news
caused uncertainty in the population. False news has taken over social media, becoming
part of life for many people. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate, through a systematic
review, the impact of social media on the dissemination of infodemic knowing and its
impacts on health. Yasmim (2021)

Research on fake news about COVID-19 has focused on various aspects, including
sentiment analysis, content analysis, and detection methods. Iwendi (2022) used deep
learning models to detect fake news, achieving high accuracy and precision. Dương
(2021) analyzed the content of fake news in Vietnam, finding that it was widespread and
often focused on untrue positive COVID-19 cases. Díaz (2021) highlighted the potential
for fake news about COVID-19 to cause widespread unease. Shamim (2022) collected a
dataset for detecting fake news from traditional media, testing existing classification
algorithms, and finding that some news was indeed fake. These studies collectively
underscore the need for effective strategies to combat fake news about COVID-19.

A range of studies have highlighted the prevalence and impact of fabricated news about
COVID-19. Galhardi (2020) found that WhatsApp is a key platform for spreading such
misinformation, which can undermine public health efforts. Sousa (2022) further
emphasized the role of the Brazilian Department of Health in disseminating fake news,
noting the use of rhetorical devices and inconsistencies in fact-checking. Al-Zaman
(2020) identified health-related fake news as the most common type, often originating
from online media and having a negative intention. Rodríguez (2020) compared the
prevalence of false news on Twitter and Sina Weibo, finding that while more false news
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 Dominican College of
Tarlac
College of Computer Studies
is shared on Twitter, both platforms struggle to limit the circulation of such information.
These studies collectively underscore the need for effective strategies to combat the
spread of fabricated news about COVID-19.

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