Earlier this month, Facebook said it would start removing posts that contain false claims about COVID-19 vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts.
This will be part of Facebook’s policy to remove misinformation about the virus that could lead to imminent physical harm, which could include false claims about the safety, efficacy, ingredients or side effects of the vaccines.Â
The social media giant on Friday has announced that it has modified its ads policies to highlight the ability of a COVID-19 vaccine to prevent someone from contracting the virus, as well as ads promoting ways to safely access a COVID-19 vaccine. However, it will continue to prohibit content that tries to exploit the pandemic for commercial gain.Â
Further, ads or organic posts that promote the sale of a COVID-19 vaccine, such as attempts to sell COVID-19 vaccine kits or expedited access to the vaccine, will be rejected. Additionally, ads that claim the vaccine is a cure for the virus will also be rejected. Â
While the change in ad policy is already in effect, Facebook said it would take some time to train their systems and teams on these policies. The tech giant expects the enforcement to ramp up over the coming weeks and months.Â
