Misinformation 'hindering relief efforts' after Turkey-Syria quake

Misinformation across social media platforms is "hindering earthquake relief efforts" in Turkey, according to an editor at a British fact-checking charity.

False information posted online may "ruin lives" as it could see relief efforts for the 7.8-magnitude quake that hit Syria and Turkey misdirected, Full Fact's assistant editor Abbas Panjwani wrote in an opinion piece for The Guardian published Tuesday.

"False information can directly hinder aid and disaster relief… it’s crucial that those working on the relief efforts have access to good information online… When bad information spreads, it can ruin lives," Panjwani wrote.

"People and organisations may be using footage they see online to help identify those affected… the last thing they need to see is their social media feeds clogged with misinformation," he added.

After a 7.8-magnitude earthquake devastated Turkey and neighboring Syria this week, misinformation about the disaster spread across social media in multiple countries and languages.

Here are some of the misrepresented visuals our global team has fact-checked 🧵

— AFP Fact Check 🔎 (@AFPFactCheck) February 10, 2023

The false information spread online includes the passing off of videos from the 2020 Beirut Blast in Lebanon or earthquakes elsewhere in the world as footage from the Turkey-Syria quake.

It may also include people trying to capitalise off others' desire to help, in the form of false donation pages.

The fact-checking editor advised social media viewers to ask themselves if content they see online is plausible, and to give facts mentioned a Google search.

There have been other warnings surrounding misinformation since the quake, which has killed at least 41,000 people, struck on 6 February.

Just days after the quake, scientists and the medical community criticised the spread of false information for playing on people’s fears.

Fahrettin Altun, chief of communications for the Turkish Presidency, urged Twitter and Elon Musk "to pay special attention to disinformation and misinformation efforts on the platform", adding it "can cost lives and slow down our efforts".

The New Arab has contacted Teyit for comment.