Mar 27, 2021 - Technology

Facebook freezes Venezuela leader Maduro's page for false COVID claim

Axios

Nicolas Maduro President of Venezuela puts on his protective facemask after he gave a press conference in Miraflores Palace on February 17, 2021 in Caracas, Venezuela. — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, in February. Photo: Carolina Cabral/Getty Images

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's Facebook page has been frozen by the tech giant for claiming without evidence that a herbal remedy was a "miracle" cure for COVID-19, Reuters first reported.

Driving the news: Facebook said it removed a video, posted in January, in which Maduro makes the claims about Carvativir, an oral solution derived from thyme. The tech company said the video violated its policy against false claims "that something can guarantee prevention from getting COVID-19 or can guarantee recovery from COVID-19."

Facebook said in an emailed statement the company follows guidance from the World Health Organization "that says there is currently no medication to cure the virus."
"Due to repeated violations of our rules, we are also freezing the page for 30 days, during which it will be read-only," the statement added.

For the record: Venezuelan health officials have reported nearly 155,000 cases and over 1,500 deaths from the coronavirus, per Johns Hopkins.

However, opposition leaders say the "actual figure is likely higher due to limited testing," Reuters notes.

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Facebook freezes Venezuela leader Maduro's page for false COVID claim

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