Last Updated on February 9, 2024 by Aditi Gangal
Quick Take
An article published on a media website claims that the World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced a global police force to arrest non-mainstream content posters online. We fact-checked and found the claim to be False.
The Claim
According to an article published by The People’s Voice, WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus discussed the need for better preparation regarding Disease X during a session on the Pandemic Agreement. The article suggested that this agreement would grant WHO extensive control, enabling the outlawing of free speech and the imprisonment of citizens for sharing misinformation online.
We have attached a screenshot of the article below:
Fact Check
Has the WHO introduced a global police force to arrest non-mainstream content posters online?
No. The WHO has not introduced a global police force to arrest non-mainstream content posters online. This claim lacks credible evidence. The WHO’s primary focus is public health. Its mandate is to provide leadership on global health matters, shape the health research agenda, set norms and standards, and provide technical support to countries. It cannot arrest individuals.
Moreover, the enforcement of laws falls under the jurisdiction of individual countries and their respective legal systems. No international organization has the authority to supersede national laws or enforce them directly. Also, most countries have laws protecting freedom of expression, even if some find the content objectionable. The WHO, as a member state organization, respects these individual national laws.
Even the latest draft of the WHO Pandemic Agreement does not hints towards outlawing free speech and the imprisonment of citizens for sharing misinformation online. This further undermines the credibility of the claim.
The primary focus of the WHO is global health issues. The WHO is concerned with issues like disease prevention, healthcare access, and emergency response.
The WHO does not directly police social media content. It recognizes the importance of both freedom of expression and public health concerns. Due to this, the organization works with platforms and develops guidelines to address misinformation and promote responsible use of social media in the context of health.
The claim seems to be based on a misinterpretation of a discussion held at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. However, this discussion did not mention anything about installing a global police force during these discussions. The discussions were likely related to global health initiatives and pandemic preparedness, not policing online content.
Also, the claim originated from an article published by The People’s Voice, a source known for disseminating false information in the past. The website itself has disclaimers stating that the information it provides is not reliable. This casts serious doubt on the credibility of the source. In our other fact-check stories, we have shown that The People’s Voice website is known for sharing articles that spread misinformation. For instance, they falsely claimed the Dutch were killing people without their consent. Another time, they wrongly asserted that Pope Francis supported euthanasia. As we looked into more of their stories, we found that many lacked any evidence.
In conclusion, it is important to critically evaluate information before believing and sharing it, especially when it pertains to sensitive topics like censorship and freedom of expression.
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