WHO debuts Health Alert, a fact-finding tool on WhatsApp that shows up-to-date info like novel COVID-19 infection rates, travel advisories, and debunked misinfo
The Health Alert bot lands two days after WhatsApp announced its Information Hub with WHO and a $1M grant to Poynter, making this the first operational product of that partnership rather than a standalone launch. It puts the UN health agency inside the world's largest messaging app at the moment misinformation about the pandemic is peaking.
WHO gains a direct, unmediated channel to WhatsApp's user base for infection rates, travel advisories, and corrections — no longer dependent on press briefings or third-party amplification.
If the pattern holds, health authorities will treat messaging platforms as standing public-health infrastructure — with fact-checking organizations like Poynter embedded as permanent verification suppliers rather than ad-hoc partners.
The trend: Messaging platforms are being repurposed from private communication tools into official government and health-agency distribution channels during the pandemic.
WHO Health Alert brings COVID-19 facts to billions via WhatsApp - Send “Hi” to +41 79 893 18 92 on WhatsApp - read more @ https://www.who.int/...
@jimwaterson
Jim Waterson on x
NHS in talks with WhatsApp to launch a coronavirus chatbot, trying to reach people where they are and go a little way to stemming much of disinformation on the service. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@mattnavarra
@mattnavarra on x
WhatsApp in talks with NHS to set up coronavirus chatbot* *Might help with its reputation for spreading misinformation https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@privacymatters
Privacy Matters on x
Once this pandemic is over (🤞) I can only hope that influential organisations like @WHO begin to move to and promote the use of more privacy respectful and protective communications tools (WhatsApp would not be my choice). https://twitter.com/...
@bdadonaite
Bernadeta on x
@WHO has made a WhatsApp group in which it shares the lates info about COVID-19. Join through the link. https://www.who.int/...
@robaeprice
Rob Price on x
The WHO has launched a WhatsApp chatbot to help people protect themselves from COVID-19. (It doesn't have natural language processing, unfortunately.) https://www.who.int/... https://twitter.com/...
@tefomohapi
@tefomohapi on x
(the same South African team behind the #COVID19 WhatsApp service by the Department of Health has now worked with @WHO to launch an international #coronavirus WhatsApp service) well done @turn_io and @praekeltorg podcast with @gustavp live in a day/2 https://www.who.int/...
@alexstamos
Alex Stamos on x
1) This link is broken 2) Why is this a long +41 number (presumably) tied to a real MSISDN? The first major step WhatsApp could take to fight misinformation is to offer globally reachable short codes to trusted organizations. https://twitter.com/...
@alexstamos
Alex Stamos on x
WhatsApp to 4444 to learn about COVID. They could auto-route and guess initial language based upon the sending country code.
@drtedros
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on x
I am proud to announce that today we launched a new @WHO Health Alert messaging service via @WhatsApp. This service will provide the latest news & information on #COVID19, including details on symptoms and how to protect yourself. To subscribe, click here http://wa.me/...
@who
@who on x
“To increase access to reliable information, WHO has worked with @WhatsApp and @Facebook to launch a new WHO Health Alert messaging service"-@DrTedros http://wa.me/...
@lilyhnewman
Lily Hay Newman on x
now you can get covid-19 info direct from the WHO over whatsapp. the messaging app is also testing out a new feature in its android beta to combat misinformation by putting a magnifying glass icon on highly forwarded messages to encourage googling https://www.wired.com/...
@mikeisaac
Rat King on x
WhatsApp partners with WHO to spread COVID-19 facts to billions sign up below and you'll see this prompt, where a WHO bot responds with relevant info WhatsApp has been heavily criticized in the past for being a conduit for misinformation https://www.who.int/... https://twitter.co…