The Infodemic - an APRU Response.pdf

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented challenges and insights that must be used to ensure the world is better prepared for future pandemics and similar global challenges. One of the most prominent but least understood factors at play throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been the impact of misinformation.

As part of the APRU partnership on combatting the Infodemic, the University of Auckland team has conducted preliminary modelling work drawing on existing evidence of social media penetration, trust in science and policy interventions to derive an index for national vulnerability to the infodemic.

While the model is a first iteration and requires testing and refinement, it illustrates what is possible by bringing an evidence and data led approach to this problem.