CARACAS (Reuters) – Facebook froze the page of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for violating policies against the dissemination of erroneous information about COVID-19, promoting a drug that he claims, without evidence, can cure the disease, a spokesman said. voice of the company on Saturday.
Maduro, in January, described Carvativir, an oral solution derived from thyme, as a “miracle” drug that neutralizes the coronavirus without side effects, a claim that doctors say is not supported by science.
Facebook removed a video in which Maduro promotes the drug because it violates a policy against false claims “that something can guarantee prevention against COVID-19 or can guarantee the recovery of COVID-19”.
“We follow the guidance of the WHO (World Health Organization) which says that there is currently no medicine to cure the virus,” the spokesman told Reuters. “Due to repeated violations of our rules, we are also freezing the page for 30 days, during which it will be read-only.”
Maduro in the video says that Carvativir, which he calls the “miracle drops” of 19th century Venezuelan doctor, José Gregorio Hernandez, who was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church, can be used preventively and therapeutically against the coronavirus.
Page administrators have been notified of the policy violation, said a Facebook spokesman.
Maduro’s account on the Instagram photo-sharing social media platform, which belongs to Facebook, will not be affected.
Venezuela’s Ministry of Information did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In February, Maduro said Facebook “censored” videos in which it showed Carvativir. In the past, he said he and his allies have been treated unfairly by social media companies, including what he calls arbitrary account suspension.
Maduro often uses social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and sometimes broadcasts speeches on Facebook Live.
Venezuela’s official numbers on Friday showed 154,905 cases of coronavirus and 1,543 deaths, although opposition critics say the actual number is likely to be higher due to limited testing.
Brian Ellsworth reporting; additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago; Editing by Leslie Adler