Disinformation on Social Media Based on the Example of COVID-19: Insights From Behavioural Psychology and Criminology

Abstract

A range of violent offences in recent years – whether in Christchurch, Hanau or the Pizzagate incident in Washington, D.C. – have shed light on the transition from virtual to physical violence. In all these cases, the perpetrators were motivated by conspiracy theories and disinformation that circulated on social media. Conspiracy theories and disinformation, which took off in the virtual reality of social media, led to physical violence. This transition can also be clearly seen in the current coronavirus ‘infodemic’. The fight against disinformation and fake news is thus of vital interest from both a societal and a criminological perspective. In this essay, current strategies against this phenomenon shall be evaluated from a behavioural psychology, political theory and criminology perspective. Finally, new solutions to contain the ‘infodemic’ of our time will be proposed.