Monash Law Expert Co-Leads WHO Panel on Infodemic Management
Monash Law is proud to announce the publication of a groundbreaking ethics guidance of the World Health Organization (WHO) on social listening and infodemic management. The work on this official guidance of the WHO is led by an expert panel co-chaired by Associate Professor Calvin Ho, Co-Convenor of the Health Law Group at Monash Law, and Dr. Isabella Ballalai from Brazil. This guidance marks a significant milestone in the fields of public health ethics and global health law in the context of information epidemiology or infodemiology.
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A Leader in Health Law and Ethics
Associate Professor Calvin Ho is an active scholar in the realm of health law and ethics. With an extensive background that spans multiple jurisdictions and prestigious institutions, Calvin has consistently demonstrated his expertise and commitment to advancing global health. At Monash Law, he co-convenes the Health Law Group, where he leads research initiatives that address critical issues at the intersection of law, ethics, and emerging health technologies.
Calvin's role as co-chair of the WHO expert panel underscores his leadership and influence in the field. The panel's report, which can be accessed here, provides a comprehensive ethical framework for social listening and infodemic management. This framework is designed to guide health authorities and researchers in effectively managing the flow of information during public health emergencies, ensuring that ethical considerations are at the forefront of these efforts.
Calvin Ho at the the Data Justice in Genomics and Health conference, held at Monash Law Chambers in 2024.
The Importance of Social Listening
Social listening involves gathering and analyzing data from various sources, including social media, to understand public concerns, disinformation and misinformation, and behavioral responses during health crises. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for effective infodemic management, as information overload, disinformation and misinformation can significantly impact public health responses. The WHO expert panel's report addresses these challenges by offering ethical guidelines for data collection, analysis, and reporting, to ensure that transparency, accountability, and other ethical and human rights commitments are observed.
A Global Perspective
Calvin Ho's contributions to the report are informed by his extensive experience and research in global health law and ethics. He is an ethics review board member of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and has previously served as an expert consultant to WHO and Health Action International. His work on the ethical implications of emerging health technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital health, has been published in numerous prestigious journals.
In addition to his role at Monash Law, Calvin is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law at the University of Hong Kong, a Fellow of the PHG Foundation at the University of Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health in the United Kingdom. His international experience and collaborations enrich his contributions to the WHO expert panel and the broader field of health law.
Looking Ahead
The publication of the WHO report is just one of many achievements in Calvin Ho's career. He is also co-editing a special issue of the Asian Bioethics Review on Social Listening and Infodemic Management, set to be released in July 2025. This special issue will further explore the ethical and legal dimensions of infodemic management and provide valuable insights for researchers and policymakers.
Monash Law is proud to support and celebrate the work of Associate Professor Calvin Ho. His leadership and expertise continue to shape the future of health law and ethics, making a profound impact on global public health.
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