Misinformation and disinformation in consumer health protection – How can scientific institutions deal with this?
What it's about:
Today, false or misleading information often spreads faster than verified facts. Particularly when it comes to health, food or chemicals, such content can lead to uncertainty and impair trust in scientific recommendations. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is tasked with conducting scientific health risk assessments for consumers and communicating these in an accessible manner. This also includes dealing responsibly with misinformation and disinformation.
These FAQs explain what misinformation and disinformation are, how they come about and how scientific institutions can deal with them.
FAQ
Misinformation often arises as a result of errors – someone passes on something incorrect without realising their mistake. Disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberately spread to deceive or unsettle people. It is not only clearly “false” content that plays a role, but also correct information that is taken out of context.
Misinformation and disinformation can lead people to make health decisions based on false assumptions or an incomplete understanding of the facts, thereby harming themselves or others. Health risks may be underestimated or overestimated. Uncertainties may arise. In health crises, uncertainties can in turn lead to crises being managed more slowly, because existing measures are perceived by the public as ineffective and are therefore not implemented to the required extent.
Science communication can prevent and counter disinformation by explaining in an accessible way how scientific findings are formed and by helping people to better contextualise information. This includes building media and scientific literacy so that misleading content is more readily recognised. Another approach is so-called ‘prebunking’: This involves providing information at an early stage and highlighting typical forms of disinformation before they spread. If false information has already spread, debunking can be used to explain objectively why it is incorrect – as clearly and concisely as possible, without unnecessarily repeating the false information. It is also important to be present where disinformation frequently appears, such as on social media, and to seek dialogue with the target groups.
Research findings show that fact-checking and corrections can, on the whole, be effective in countering misinformation and disinformation. On average, people rely more heavily on verifiable facts following a correction. However, the effect is usually rather moderate and depends on how the information is communicated. Clear, understandable and unambiguous corrections are particularly effective. They are less effective in highly polarised debates or when people already hold very firm convictions.
In times of crisis, many people feel unsettled and are quick to seek out information. Rumours and false reports therefore spread particularly easily and can have a major impact on society and public opinion. In times of crisis, a flood of information from various sources – a so-called ‘infodemic’ (World Health Organisation [WHO]) – can cause further uncertainty. This is because false or misleading statements can be hidden within this mass of information, particularly on social media.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has a statutory mandate to provide information on potential, identified and assessed risks that food, substances and products may pose to consumers. The entire assessment process must be presented transparently to all. Through extensive, complete and comprehensible risk communication, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment makes science visible, usable and applicable for consumers. This mandate plays a crucial role, particularly in situations of great uncertainty, in providing reliable information. How the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment ensures its independence and transparency External Link:is outlined here.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment continuously monitors media coverage of relevant topics, selected social media platforms and scientific sources. In addition, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment receives an average of several hundred enquiries per year from the press and the general public, from which observations on emerging trends and narratives can also be identified. Furthermore, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts its own social science research on risk perception, early detection and impact assessment among the public. The Institute also uses these findings to strategically align its communication activities.
It is not possible to perform an assessment or classification of every single representation or debate. However, if abbreviated, contradictory or false statements on topics relevant to the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment gain significant public relevance, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment compares these with the current state of scientific knowledge. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts its assessments on the basis of internationally recognised scientific standards. For its health risk assessments, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has developed a set of guidelines to ensure a consistently high standard of technical quality.
In recent years, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has, on occasion, carried out more detailed health assessments or provided expert analysis of widespread but sometimes incomplete media reports on detected plant protection product residues, including in External Link:cereals, External Link:strawberries, External Link:mulled wine and External Link:Christmas trees. It also addresses popular science questions as they arise, such as “Do people eat the equivalent of a ‘credit card’ of microplastics per week?”, and illustrates important distinctions, such as the External Link:difference between hazard and risk, in its communications.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts research into, among other things, risk perception among the general public. One tool used for this is the External Link:BfR Consumer Monitor, a regular, representative population survey. Using questionnaires, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment surveys citizens’ attitudes, knowledge and risk perception on various topics in the domains of food safety, consumer health protection and related areas. Identifying these insights into current trends and changes in public perception in a timely manner is important for the work of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. This enables it to tailor its risk assessments and risk communication strategies to meet needs, to identify potential differences between scientific expertise and public opinion, and to adapt its risk communication accordingly.
Research is also conducted into issues of conflicts of knowledge and values. Whether scientific data is accepted and the recommendations for action derived from it are taken into account depends not only on one’s own level of knowledge, but also on one’s own values and beliefs. The problem is not always the dissemination of factually incorrect information, but also the selective dissemination of only that information which corresponds to one’s own values and views.
In the field of media content research, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is investigating the representation of food supplements, such as vitamin D or zinc supplements, and the use of health claims on social media platforms. This is because initial studies indicate that food supplements are frequently advertised on social media with misleading or false health and efficacyPositive Predictive ValueTo glossary claims and without any mention of the potential risks of consumption. This practice contravenes the EU Health Claims Regulation, as health claims may only be made if they are scientifically substantiated and have been assessed by the EU.
The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment publishes scientific opinions, press releases, communications, FAQs, scientific reports, as well as brochures and fact sheets on its website. The Institute adapts the information for various social media channels in different image and video formats. In addition, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment produces its own science magazine, ‘External Link:BfR2GO’, a External Link:podcast called ‘Risiko, a series of External Link:educational comics, and has developed a External Link:children’s book. Furthermore, through its active press relations work, the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment provides the media with as comprehensive specialist information as possible, in written or audiovisual form, in response to enquiries. In this way, the specialist information reaches many different target groups. The content is updated need-based, ensuring that it always reflects the latest state of knowledge.
In formats such as FAQs or the summary ‘What it’s about’ box in opinions or communications, complex issues are presented in such a way that they can be understood even without prior knowledge; technical terms are explained and the context is outlined. Results from social science research show that clear language and comprehensible rationales can strengthen trust, even when research gaps and scientific uncertainties are highlighted. A health risk can only ever be assessed based on the current state of knowledge. The assessment may therefore be subject to uncertainties. That is why the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment transparently explains in its assessments how robust the relevant body of studies and data is.
Use the information channels and social media accounts of official health institutions such as the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) or the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
If you are unsure, ask them directly. This way, you will receive scientifically sound answers from experts.
Check information by (1) looking at the sources and (2) verifying content that is important to you by consulting the assessments of several reputable sources.
Tend to share information from sources with scientific expertise and keep the discussion factual. Helpful questions to ask yourself are:
Who is the source?
Where do the claims come from?
Is the source of the information reliable?
Where can I find further information on misinformation and disinformation (a selection)?
General:
External Link:https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/quick-guide-spotting-misinformation
External Link:https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/online-disinformation.html
Further information on risk communication
- Risk communication page on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment website Go to page