Welcome to the latest edition of Faqcheck Insights!

Here, we’re mapping trends and topics to help businesses and companies gain valuable insights into potential informational threats that could impact their brand's reputation.

Our biweekly blog is designed to help local and international companies operating in Malaysia in navigating the complex online content landscape, helping them identify and counteract sources of misinformation and disinformation.

In this edition, we cover the varying conversations and potential misinformation threats being discussed around the recent global Mpox outbreak and sinkhole accident in Kuala Lumpur.

Mpox outbreak and rise of conspiracy theories

Each time a health crisis arises, social media will be rife with conversations about the disease’s origins, spread and adverse effects on communities around the world.

In the case of Mpox, potential conspiracy theories surrounding this crisis are likely to mirror those seen in previous public health outbreaks. Social media platforms enable the instantaneous sharing of information across the globe, thus allowing for rapid dissemination of fake news or false narratives.

We know that social media platforms amplify the spread of conspiracy theories, often outpacing the efforts of fact-checkers and official sources. Misinformation can go viral within hours, reaching millions of users before accurate information is available or widely circulated.

For example, after news organisations broke the story of Mpox, some responses questioned the timing of WHO’s Mpox emergency declaration.  For instance, this chatter raises questions about WHO's announcement and the timing before the US elections, as if to insinuate something sinister was brewing behind this health development.

Added to that cynical comments emerged about the existence of Mpox, accusing authorities of faking yet “another pandemic”. Criticism or worse still wild conspiracies of Mpox are shared widely too, potentially fueling anxiety or fear about this disease. 

Past fake news about Mpox’s emergence in 2022 are bound to erupt again, driving the need to raise the importance of media literacy and fact-checking efforts by organisations such as Faqcheck. 

It’s key to combat instances where conspiracy theorists spread news about the outbreak as being exaggerated or even fabricated by pharmaceutical companies to sell vaccines and treatments. 

This narrative often accuses "Big Pharma" of creating or hyping diseases to boost their profits through the sale of vaccines and antiviral medications. Though entirely false, this theory could resonate with those who already harbour suspicions about the pharmaceutical industry, particularly by those who were suspicious about the COVID-19 pandemic and related vaccine rollouts. 

Crucially, Faqcheck has also quashed fake news linking Mpox to Shingles, and more damagingly linking Mpox to the HIV/AIDS crisis, where the LGBTQ+ community was wrongly blamed for the spread of the virus. 

These historical precedents make it easier for conspiracy theorists to recycle old narratives, portraying Mpox as a punishment or consequence of LGBTQ+ lifestyles. These narratives are fueled by homophobia and the belief that diseases that disproportionately affect the LGBTQ+ community are somehow self-inflicted. We are already seeing evidence of these narratives playing out, with photos like this stoking "moral panic" about the LGBTQ+ community.

We had also led identified and countered fake images purportedly showing Mpox outbreak in Singapore, during its earlier mention in 2022, underlining the cross-border nature of disinformation, and to stop its spread into Malaysia. 

Such disinformation could motivate pushback against vaccines, affecting pharmaceuticals and other healthcare related services designed to support the fight against Mpox.  

Corporations linked to healthcare products need to be across such conversations to battle against inaccurate information, hoaxes and false narratives about this outbreak, either by engaging with fact checking services or capacity building programmes to ensure its staff are well-versed to manage misinformation or disinformation threats.

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Kuala Lumpur's sinking feeling

The recent sinkhole incident in Kuala Lumpur’s Little India district has sparked conversations about the city’s infrastructure, with some questioning the safety of the city’s amenities while some fear-mongering topics have emerged since the accident. 

The August incident involved an Indian tourist who was swallowed by an eight-metre-deep sinkhole that suddenly appeared on the sidewalk along Jalan Masjid India, a busy area known for its vibrant cultural and commercial activity. 

The victim, a 48-year-old woman, vanished without a trace as the ground beneath her collapsed. Rescue operations, involving specialised units and heavy machinery, have been ongoing but have faced significant challenges due to the complex underground sewage systems in the area.

This incident has reignited conversations about Kuala Lumpur’s vulnerability to such disasters. There is growing public anxiety that the city might be "sinking," a fear exacerbated by the rapid urbanisation and frequent incidents of flash flooding. 

These discussions are fueled by legitimate concerns about the city’s ageing infrastructure, poor urban planning, and the impact of climate change, which can lead to increased occurrences of sinkholes and other ground subsidence issues. 

However, the fear-mongering surrounding the city’s safety could have wider implications, including potential impacts on tourism and investor confidence, for example questions about property prices and how underground cavities undermine value of buildings in the Klang Valley. 

But there have been some other conversations that raise the validity of such incidents but urged the need to pare back on exaggeration and fear mongering. Additionally, online conversations or opportunists have raised unrelated historical incidents and brought up past catastrophes such as the Highland Towers which has nothing to do with the recent KL sinkhole incident. 

Parties involved in managing Kuala Lumpur’s infrastructure and urban development have to be on the watch for online discussions, which casts doubt on the safety of the city’s roads and pavements.  

For example, City Hall has to debunk any further myth or rumours that the sinkholes would make the city an unsafe place to do business and live in. Additionally, geologists have to respond quickly to fake news about the city’s underground caves and call out fictional experts, in this ongoing narrative.  

Continuous coverage of the sinkholes, such as this report and this one, feed into social media algorithms designed to show users content that aligns with what they choose to believe in.  Similarly with conspiracy theories, this pattern can create echo chambers, which may be hard to break through or correct with accurate information.

The lesson here to note is that during a crisis, there are potential misinformation and disinformation threats, so parties involved in construction, commercial development or even businesses accessing these amenities need to ensure inaccuracies are addressed.

If misinformation appears in the media, companies should swiftly issue corrections or clarifications to prevent further spread. This can include issuing official statements or requesting corrections from news outlets.  

To assist with media literacy, private and public corporations could also establish strong relationships with reputable media outlets to ensure accurate reporting. Offering exclusive access to information or interviews with credible subject matter experts can encourage the media to convey the company’s narrative.

Companies are encouraged to use reliable counter-disinformation organisations like Faqcheck who provide tailored solutions to help your organisation monitor, counter and mitigate threats to your organisation and brand’s reputation.   

Let’s talk about how we can safeguard your brand—reach out to us on LinkedIn, Instagram or email liyana@faqcheck.org to start the conversation.

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