Responding Quickly and Effectively to New, Incorrect, or Conflicting Information

During disaster events, rumors and misinformation can spread quickly over social networks.

While social networks are often self-correcting when it comes to misinformation, swift intervention by emergency managers to dispel rumors and spread new information to the public is common practice.

FBI Portland Twitter post and Douglas County Sherriff Office Facebook post correcting information about the wildfires in Oregon. FBI Portland @FBPortland. Reports that extremists are setting wildfires in Oregon are untrue. Hep us stop the spread of misinformation by only sharing information from trusted, official sources. FBI Portland and local law enforcement agencies have been receiving reports that extremists are responsible for setting wildfires in Oregon. With our state and local partners, the FBI has investigated several such reports and found them to be untrue one of two Special Agent in Charge Lauren Cannon, Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI Portland Division 1:20 PM - September 11, 2020. Hootsuite Inc. 12.8K Retweets 2.7K Quote Tweets 17.3K Likes. Douglas County Sherriff Office, September 10. Remember when we said to follow official sources only. Remember when we said rumors make this already difficult incident even harder? Rumors spread just like wildfire and now our 9-1-1 dispatchers and professional staff are being overrun with requests for information and inquiries on an UNTRU rumor that 6 Antifa members have been arrested for setting fires in DOUGLAS COUNTY, OREGON. THIS IS NOT TRUE! Unfortunately, people are spreading this rumor and it is causing problems. Do your part. STOP. SPREADING. RUMORS! Follow official sources of information such as local emergency response websites and pages, government websites and pages and local reputable news outlets. Please, share far and wide! Stop. Spreading. Rumors.