False claims about autism, such as blaming it on prenatal medications or promoting fake cures, are spreading widely and causing real harm. But under Australia's current Disability Discrimination Act, most of this misinformation falls into a legal grey zone because it does not meet the threshold for hate speech or incitement. Legal experts argue that the law is outdated and fails to protect people with disabilities from reputational damage, stigma, or bias caused by misleading public statements. Advocates are pushing for reforms that would explicitly cover disability-based vilification, expand protections against misinformation, and reduce the burden on individuals to prove harm.

Lagos, Nigeria is beating HPV-vaccine misinformation with a multi-pronged push: myth-busting on social media, one-on-one education, outreach via ethnic leaders/translators, and church/school drives, lifting uptake to ~700,000 girls in 2024 (≈70% of a 1 million target) and another 130,000 Jan–July 2025 after adding the vaccine to routine immunisation. Nationally, Nigeria reports 71% coverage (~12 million girls 9–14), and Lagos officials expect further gains as community influencers and mobilisers keep converting hesitant parents.

On August 8, 2025, Patrick Joseph White, a 30‑year‑old Georgia man who reportedly believed the COVID‑19 vaccine had made him depressed and suicidal, launched a violent attack near the CDC headquarters in Atlanta. Armed with multiple weapons obtained from his father’s safe, he fired nearly 500 rounds, striking about four CDC buildings before killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose and ultimately dying at the scene, likely by suicide. No other casualties were reported, though staff and about 90 children in a daycare on campus were placed in lockdown. The shooting has heightened concern over the real-world dangers fueled by vaccine misinformation, with CDC Director Susan Monarez stating that "the promotion of misinformation … has now led to deadly consequences."

A recent AFP fact‑check exposed false claims made on a U.S. podcast suggesting that abortion increases breast cancer risk and is more dangerous than childbirth. These statements echoed through social media and influencer circles, notably by Seth Gruber on a July podcast episode, but are contradicted by major medical authorities like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society. Comprehensive long-term studies and official analyses have found no causal link between induced abortion and breast cancer, and childbirth is medically riskier. The misleading podcast content reflects a wider pattern of health misinformation influencing public opinion and policy debates

Childhood vaccination efforts are faltering globally: a major Lancet-led study shows that, after decades of success preventing 154 million deaths, progress has stalled or reversed since 2010 due to misinformation, pandemic disruptions, conflict, health inequities, and policy setbacks. Measles, polio, and diphtheria coverage has dropped in many countries, including high-income nations, raising urgent alarms that global immunization goals won’t be met without renewed investment, equity measures, and combatting false vaccine information.

A Guardian investigation reveals that over half of the top 100 TikTok videos under the #mentalhealthtips hashtag contain misinformation. Common issues include pathologizing normal emotions, misusing therapeutic language, promoting unproven treatments, and relying on anecdotal evidence. Experts caution that such content can mislead viewers and potentially harm mental health understanding.

A peer-reviewed study tested prominent AI chatbots (GPT-4, Google’s Bard/PaLM2, Anthropic’s Claude 2, and Meta’s LLaMa 2) and found they can readily generate harmful health misinformation – for example, false claims that sunscreen causes cancer or that an alkaline diet cures cancer . Out of 40 prompts (plus 80 “jailbreak” attempts to bypass safety filters), only a small fraction of bogus outputs were blocked; even when chatbots added warnings or disclaimers, those were easily removed from the text . Researchers report inconsistent safeguards and a lack of transparency across AI providers, warning that without stronger protections, generative AI could mass-produce credible-sounding false health narratives.

A viral claim circulating online alleges that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies fluoride added to drinking water as hazardous waste. This misinformation has been amplified by health-focused platforms and social media personalities. In reality, the EPA does not list the common water fluoridation additives—such as fluorosilicic acid and sodium fluoride—as hazardous waste. Official regulatory agencies continue to maintain that fluoride is safe at recommended levels and plays a public health role in preventing dental decay.

As measles cases surge in the United States, public health experts warn that misinformation is helping the disease spread faster than the virus itself. According to a new KFF survey, a third of U.S. adults falsely believe the measles vaccine is unsafe, and even among vaccinated individuals, skepticism is rising. Health officials stress that false claims shared on social media are undermining trust and hampering efforts to contain the outbreak - putting vulnerable populations at greater risk.

The European Commission is sounding the alarm as misinformation fuels a dangerous drop in vaccination rates across Europe. Amid fresh outbreaks of measles and whooping cough, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides warned that false narratives about vaccine safety are undermining public trust and reversing decades of disease control progress. EU health authorities are urging member states to combat health misinformation more aggressively to prevent further preventable deaths and ensure high immunization coverage.

With misinformation reaching patients faster than healthcare professionals, trust in medical advice is eroding. A growing body of evidence shows that patients often encounter false claims online—through social media or search—before ever consulting a doctor. This confusion is particularly harmful for those with chronic or rare diseases, leading to delayed treatments, vaccine hesitancy, and increased emotional stress.

An investigation by the Pulitzer Center uncovers how the plastic and chemical industry coordinated a long-term disinformation campaign to defend PFAS, or “forever chemicals”, despite mounting health and environmental concerns. Through misleading research, front groups, and narrative manipulation, the industry sought to downplay toxicity risks, delay regulation, and confuse both policymakers and the public. This highlights a disturbing pattern: strategic use of science denial and PR tactics to manufacture doubt, echoing historic disinfo campaigns from Big Tobacco and fossil fuel lobbies.

A recent Measles outbreak in West Texas has already led to over 200 cases and the first U.S. measles death in a decade. The fear fueling this crisis stems from long-debunked claims, like the fraudulent 1998 study falsely linking vaccines to autism. Social media amplifies this misinformation, eroding public trust and putting children at risk. As vaccination rates drop, hospitals fill up, preventable diseases spread, and the consequences turn deadly.

Misinformation is turning social media into a dangerous marketplace for unproven health tests. A new study reveals that influencers are using fear-based tactics to promote medical screenings with little scientific backing. Out of 982 analyzed posts on Instagram and TikTok, 87% exaggerated the benefits, while fewer than 15% disclosed potential risks. This unchecked misinformation fuels anxiety, unnecessary medical procedures, and financial exploitation—leaving public health at risk.

In 2024, the healthcare sector faced unprecedented data breaches, compromising sensitive information of millions. Notably, Change Healthcare experienced a massive ransomware attack affecting approximately 100 million individuals, marking it as the largest healthcare data breach to date. This surge in cyberattacks underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures within the healthcare industry.​

The proliferation of health misinformation, exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to pose significant threats to public health. Falsehoods about treatments and preventive measures have led to confusion and premature deaths. Despite the growing threat, social media platforms have struggled to effectively police misinformation. Psychologists are actively researching the spread of false information, identifying vulnerable populations, and developing interventions to counteract the "infodemic." Strategies include debunking myths, promoting accurate information through trusted sources, and enhancing public resilience to misinformation through "prebunking" techniques.

A sophisticated fraud ring is targeting physicians by impersonating state regulators, including the Washington Medical Commission and the Department of Health. These scammers use official-looking communications and personal information to create a sense of urgency, coercing victims into providing money or sensitive data. Such deceptive tactics not only cause financial loss but also erode trust in legitimate regulatory bodies.

Social media platforms are rife with cancer treatment misinformation, posing significant risks to public health. A study analyzing 200 popular articles on common cancers found that 32.5% contained misinformation, and 30.5% included harmful information. Alarmingly, articles with misinformation garnered higher engagement, highlighting the urgent need for accurate information dissemination to protect patients from potentially dangerous advice.