President Alvi endorses video removed by YouTube for spreading coronavirus misinformation

President Arif Alvi retweeted a tweet by his son, Awab Alvi, on April 26, and said: “Lockdown or No Lockdown? Coronavirus is new so there is a major difference of opinion in the world & in Pakistan on how to handle it. As data comes in, opinions change. So please keep an open mind. This is long but a must-watch for all our opinion-makers including politicians.”

The tweet was a video by doctors who were arguing that people should develop resistance to COVID-19.

Lockdown or No Lockdown?Coronavirus is new so there is a major difference of opinion in the world & in Pakistan on how to handle it. As data comes in, opinions change. So please keep an open mind. This is long but a must watch for all our opinion makers including politicians. https://t.co/5NtkXMDfci

— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) April 26, 2020

In a Twitter thread, President Alvi’s son Dr Awab Alvi goes on to say: “Historically of the human race and medical outbreak We’ve always “quarantined the sick” NEVER have we “quarantined the healthy” In the panic of the unknown we are reacting (may have been right earlier) but now we know this better and we need the population to develop resistance. [sic]”

But if you click on the YouTube video shared by Dr Awab Alvi, it says the video has been removed. Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfLVxx_lBLU&feature=youtu.be

MUST WATCH: Doctors sharing data saying that its time we allow ppl to resume normal life & develop resistance to virus

Initially the world had reacted to the unknown & based on hypothetical predictions — months into the outbreak ground reality is diffhttps://t.co/YBYdM8Ia8E

— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) April 26, 2020

The video has been taken down by YouTube for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines. YouTube has recently been taking down videos spreading misinformation about the novel coronavirus.

Twitter recently also updated its guidelines on misinformation regarding COVID-19. Last month, Twitter and Facebook removed posts shared by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for including coronavirus misinformation that violates the social media companies’ rules against posting harmful content.

Facebook said it took down a video that had been shared on both Facebook and Instagram, in which Bolsonaro said the anti-malaria prescription drug hydroxychloroquine was an effective treatment for COVID-19.

Twitter earlier had removed two videos that also showed Bolsonaro praising hydroxychloroquine and encouraging the end of social distancing. It is rare for Facebook to take down a post from a head of state, but the coronavirus pandemic has led tech companies to move aggressively to filter out unfounded medical advice, hoaxes and other false information that they say could risk public health.

Facebook has a policy against sharing posts that could cause users physical harm, a spokesperson said.  “We remove content on Facebook and Instagram that violates our Community Standards, which do not allow misinformation that could lead to physical harm,” the company said in a statement. Twitter, too, has a policy that requires people to remove tweets that recommend cures or advice that goes against the recommendations of public health authorities.

As coronavirus cases continue to increase in Pakistan and across the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that COVID-19 cases in Pakistan can rise to 200,000 by July.