CAMRI | Peter Cunliffe-Jones speaks at All-Ireland Conference on health misinformation

Peter Cunliffe-Jones, CAMRI Visiting Researcher, recently spoke at the Joint North South Public Health Conference on the urgent issue of health misinformation and strategies to prevent its spread. The event, held online on 18 September, brought together more than 1,000 health professionals, researchers, and policymakers from across Ireland, Northern Ireland, and beyond.

In his talk, Cunliffe-Jones explored the many forms that health misinformation can take, from false claims about treatments and disease causes to misleading narratives that undermine public trust in science. Drawing on his research and recent book Fake News – What’s the Harm?, he warned that misinformation can have severe consequences when it shapes policymaking, citing recent examples in the UK and US.

He emphasised that countering this global challenge requires a multi-faceted approach: improving health and media literacy, supporting fact-checking initiatives, creating accessible and trustworthy health information for vulnerable communities, and using storytelling to challenge anti-science narratives.

Reflecting on the conference theme, Turning the Tide: Tackling the Commercial and Political Determinants of Health Through Policy and Practice, Cunliffe-Jones noted how misinformation intersects with wider political and commercial forces that shape public health outcomes. “This conference was a great opportunity to discuss how the food industry’s influence on policy and the rise of health misinformation on social media are harming public health,” he said. “Our goal is to build stronger data and research to help policymakers and researchers understand — and counter — these harms.”

His contribution supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) — aligning with the University of Westminster’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and evidence-based policy.

Read more about Cunliffe-Jones and the conference in the full news release here.

More From Peter

On 27 October, Cunliffe-Jones will be hosting a webinar for the Arab Factcheckers Network as a discussion of his book and a study he completed with Arab-language colleagues of misinformation effects in the region, researched using the model set out in the book.
The 90-minute discussion, presented in English and Arabic, will be attended by 200 people across the Middle East.

On 13 November, Cunliffe-Jones joins us for the CAMRI Seminar series to present key themes and findings from his book, chaired by Prof. Jean Seaton. Learn more and book your place here.