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Twitter bots spread coronavirus misinformation leading to arson attacks
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that nearly half of Twitter accounts tweeting about coronavirus were likely bots. These bots spread false narratives, including a conspiracy theory linking 5G to the virus, which led to dozens of wireless towers being set on fire in England. Twitter acknowledged the issue, removing thousands of misleading tweets and adding labels to disputed content. The bot activity remains a challenge, with researchers urging vigilance.
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