France launches observatory to combat medical disinformation

The French Ministry of Health has launched a new observatory designed to detect, analyze, and respond to medical disinformation. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist described health-related misinformation as a “slow, deadly poison” and a major threat to public health.

The observatory aims to document emerging trends and provide reliable scientific information to counter false claims regarding vaccination, nutrition, and cancer treatments. This initiative follows a national strategy to address the “industrialization of lies” facilitated by social media.

A recent survey of approximately 2,000 people revealed that 38% of French citizens believe they are exposed to false health information at least once a month. Furthermore, 30% of respondents reported having followed erroneous advice, leading to consequences such as the interruption of medical treatments or delays in seeking professional consultations.