5th virtual WHO infodemic management conference meeting report: steps towards measuring the burden of infodemics

Overview

This report summarizes the themes emerging from wide-ranging discussions at the 5th WHO Infodemic Management Conference, which was virtually conducted in November 2021. This infodemic can very broadly be characterized as excess information including, but not limited to, false or misleading information, in digital and physical environments during an acute public health event. It has led to confusion, health-detrimental and/ or risk-taking behaviours, all of which have been compounded by higher levels of mistrust in health authorities and public health responses. While remaining a dynamic goal-post, the definition of what is an infodemic has been evolving with increasing degrees of precision, as leading experts concur. This Conference was squarely focused on this foundational issue.