Yotam Ophir Examines the Resilience of Misinformation in Health Crises
The New York Times sought the expertise of Yotam Ophir, associate professor in the Department of Communication, regarding COVID-19-era conspiracy theories, and how AI tools have made it easier for influencers and others to spread false messages online.
Prof. Yotam Ophir, associate professor in the Department of Communication, was recently quoted in The New York Times on how COVID-19-era conspiracy theories are resurfacing during the hantavirus outbreak. The article explains that false claims about the outbreak have spread widely online, including claims that it is a hoax or linked to COVID vaccines. Prof. Ophir noted that many conspiracy theories from the pandemic never truly disappeared, but instead “lay dormant” and are now being revived as new public health concerns emerge.
