Google has disabled all Play Store searches related to the coronavirus Covid-19, which is now widespread worldwide

First reported by the blog 9to5Google, typing either "coronavirus" or "covid-19" in the Google Play Store shows nothing in the results This is apparently a new situation that has arisen in the last few days

Google has made no announcement, but it is logical to assume that the company wants to restrict user access to apps that could potentially wreak more havoc on people by misinforming them or inciting their fears

However, there have been no reports of such apps yet All we know of are malicious online documents that pretend to provide information about an epidemic but actually deliver malware

Google may have decided to avoid a potential public health problem by taking this measure for all apps without evaluating them individually It is not crazy to think that some of these apps might actually be useful to users While all the information is available online, one can imagine someone wanting a virus dashboard app that displays real-time information about viruses gathered from a variety of sources

But if Google is really blocking all searches for fear of spreading misinformation, or some rogue developer exploiting gullible and scared users, why ban coronavirus-related apps from the store Why ban them from the store if they are so afraid of being exploited?

Perhaps a better course of action would have been to establish a thorough and prioritized approval process that could give people useful apps to fight the spread of infection

Furthermore, Google has not curbed coronavirus searches on its web search service As far as I can tell, the searches only provide unfiltered information

While Facebook has not backed away from allowing lies in political ads, Zuckerberg has taken a different approach to fighting coronavirus on his social network

As Tech Radar reports, the company is actively hunting down and shooting down those who peddle falsehoods, conspiracy theories, and miracle cures If only they could do the same with everything else, including paid political advertising

On the positive side, Facebook is redirecting searches for coronavirus to the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health authorities The company also offers free advertising space to the WHO

Twitter has not yet blocked the content However, tweets related to the coronavirus reportedly display a "Know the facts" box that links to information from local verified health agencies