The Spread of Medical Misinformation in the Covid-19 Infodemic and its Implications for ASEAN Regional Security

Authors

  • Nabila Fairuz Ramadhani Universitas Darussalam Gontor, Ngawi Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29407/rcvh2r18

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has not only caused a global health crisis, but has also given rise to an infodemic phenomenon in the form of an abundance of information, including medical misinformation, which spreads rapidly through various digital platforms. In the ASEAN region, high internet penetration and social media use have accelerated the spread of inaccurate information related to Covid-19, such as claims that drinking harmful chemicals can treat Covid-19, conspiracy theories about the origin of the virus, and claims that vaccination is dangerous and can lead to infertility. This condition has the potential to disrupt the public health response and reduce public trust in government institutions. This study aims to analyze the spread of medical misinformation related to Covid-19 and its implications for ASEAN regional security. The method used in this study is a qualitative research approach with a literature case study through the analysis of various scientific journals, international organization reports, policy documents, and relevant official publications. The results show that medical misinformation during the pandemic has affected people's behavior, hindered health care efforts, and strengthened traditional security challenges in the region. In addition, differences in digital capacity and information handling policies in ASEAN countries also affect the effectiveness of responses to infodemics. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen regional cooperation through policy harmonization, increase digital literacy, exchange information between countries, and collaborate with digital platforms to build regional resilience against future misinformation threats

Keywords:

Misinformation, Covid-19, ASEAN

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Published

2026-09-01

How to Cite

Ramadhani, N. F. . (2026). The Spread of Medical Misinformation in the Covid-19 Infodemic and its Implications for ASEAN Regional Security. Proceedings of the Conference on International Visions and Transformative Actions for Society, 1, 864-874. https://doi.org/10.29407/rcvh2r18

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