An ethics framework for social listening and infodemic management

ISSUE: Successful response to an infodemic requires social listening and integrated analysis to produce infodemic insights by identifying questions, concerns, information voids and circulating narratives including health misinformation. There is currently a wide variation in social listening and infodemic insights generation practices, and a lack of frameworks to be applied on ethical values and standards. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM: In the context of infodemic management, infodemic insights are generated based on social listening, health system and data from online and offline sources. Where there is a difference between health guidance and behaviors during an emergency, rapid infodemic insights can help understand the underlying drivers of this divergence. Integrated analysis of this data informs infodemic management strategies generate insights that advise a wide range of public health interventions. Present ethical challenges influence data processing and use. RESULTS: The World Health Organization (WHO) convened a group of experts to develop an ethical framework for social listening and infodemic management. It will guide health authorities and practitioners in planning and setting up infodemic insights teams and implementing infodemic management activities. To support the deliberation of the WHO expert group, a systematic review has been conducted to understand present ethical concerns and challenges. LESSONS: Infodemic management strategies raise ethical concerns that relate to data control, commercialization, transparency, accountability and implications. Power and power imbalances, human rights, privacy and dignity, trust and respect for cultural practices may arise during data collection, analysis, interpretation, and intervention design. Without proper ethical oversight and guidance, the implementation of infodemic management strategies could harm individuals and communities, erode trust, and undermine the effectiveness of responses to a public health emergency. KEY MESSAGES: • Social listening and infodemic management by health authorities require consideration of ethical principles and guidance. • WHO ethics guidance will help public health authorities establish infodemic management practices, policies and strategies.