Apple and Google are taking strict action against the fake applications spreading misinformation about the coronavirus from their respective stores. App Store started to remove all coronavirus related application if it doesn’t belong to any recognized organization. Google is not showing such applications if someone is looking for apps associated with coronavirus on the Play Store. But, it is unclear that whether the company is limiting such applications or not.
Apple is manually reviewing all those coronavirus-related applications, and allowing only those having information from reliable sources. But, App Store excluded several apps, which are dependent on sources like WHO also from the App Store. Therefore, it seems like Apple will exclude every private entity except the trusted government and reputed healthcare sources. However, the company did not respond to this development.
The Reasoning Behind the Development
As the virus is spreading continuously across the globe, and it has no long-term solution, people are afraid. Therefore, they believe in false prevention methods. By taking the unfair advantage of the fear, many developers are spreading fake precaution methods on their application. Besides, social media like Facebook and Twitter are becoming a popular place to spread such misinformation. Such applications are available across the platforms and harming the hard-earned reputation of these companies.
Response from Facebook and Twitter
While responding to such fake information, Facebook revealed that the company is taking measures to limit the spreading. Besides, the company is also planning to provide information from reliable sources to help the mass. Facebook claimed that the company is closely working with reliable data providers to offer the most accurate information. Twitter claimed that it invested a good amount in limiting malicious behavior from familiar places like search and trend.
