Fact-checking in Latin America. Typology of viral contents dismissed during the coronavirus pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic has unveiled one of the worst facets in the field of communication studies: the infodemic, defined as the viral distribution of fake news. In this context, LatamChequea, a network of fact-checkers in Latin America, was established to fight the spread of misinformation. Methodology: The study is based on data collected by LatamChequea between February 27 and September 25, 2020. It analyzed viral contents debunked by the network to identify the underlying logics of misinformation.  Results: It was found that certain themes become viral transnationally. The collaborative work of the fact-checkers has sped up the warning actions to the media and citizens about misinformation. Discussion: There's an emphasized need for a significant effort in raising awareness about the content shared on social networks and an open discussion on the regulation of these contents. Conclusions: In the context of the health crisis, politically related contents are particularly prone to be debunked. Significant political actors often partake in spreading false information, and the media share similar verification vulnerabilities observed in social networks.