The Society of Editors has warned of the dangers of taking measures which are “too-draconian” in the fight against online misinformation.

The SoE has raised concerns after recent calls by Damian Collins MP, pictured, former chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, for the criminalisation of “maliciously and knowingly” circulating harmful public health information.

In a submission to House of Lords’ Communications Committee’s inquiry into the future of journalism, the organisation warned such measures could cause digital platform providers to take “too broad an approach to removing or preventing the spread of false information”.

This, the SoE said, could lead to genuine news being suppressed as a result.

The submission states: “The calling out of fake news and disinformation regarding the COVID-19 crisis on social media is important.

“However, the Society is cautious of calls to criminalise misinformation online. There are legitimate concerns in taking too draconian steps to try and prevent the spread of misinformation during this time.

“We must be careful that in any attempt to suppress misinformation, rumour and speculation that the digital platform providers are not backed into a corner where they take too broad an approach to removing or preventing the spread of false information.

“We do not want genuine news being suppressed by algorithms created in haste to trawl the net removing poorly identified content.

“The best method of combating false information and fake news is to shout-out and debunk such examples and to urge the public to rely on the mainstream media which is founded on well researched and edited, fact-based content.”

A new scheme has been launched to help raise awareness of good local public interest journalism during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s Bureau Local branch has joined forces with the National Union of Journalists, Public Interest News Foundation and Independent Community News Network for the #lovelocalnews campaign.

Journalists and members of the public are being asked to share their favourite articles on Twitter by tweeting @bureaulocal using the hashtag #lovelocalnews.

JPIMedia has launched a junior reporter club to help youngsters “create their own newspaper” while being schooled at home.

The initiative was launched in a number of the company’s titles today.

It follows similar projects started in recent weeks by Reach plc and the Warrington Guardian.

You can read all our coronavirus-related stories here.