Dangerous mammograms, natural treatments… For « retaliate »"To combat medical misinformation, particularly regarding breast cancer, the Ministry of Health is launching a« observatory«", promised for over a year, intended to better detect, analyze and respond to false information.
“ Health misinformation is a slow, deadly poison. It is one of the main threats to our public health.«" , said Minister Stéphanie Rist on Wednesday, during a press conference.
Already presented as a "« priority »"In January, the fight against health misinformation acquired its first tool: a« observatory »with the mission of« document the phenomenon" , " detect emerging signals »and share« reliable scientific information“.
This structure was promised in April 2025 by the former Minister of Health Yannick Neuder, before being taken up by the current one in the national strategy to combat disinformation in health, announced 10 months ago.
Massive disinformation
Vaccination, cancer, nutrition: health misinformation is "« massive »and social media have« triggered the industrialization of the manufacturing of lies«" , stated Stéphanie Rist, a rheumatologist by profession.
According to an online survey conducted from March 6 to 12 and unveiled on Wednesday, on a sample of approximately 2,000 people, nearly four out of ten French people (38 %) believe they are exposed to false health information at least once a month, or even once a week for 18 % of them.
Three out of 10 French people also believe they have already followed an incorrect recommendation, resulting in the interruption of a treatment (32 %) or the delay of a medical consultation (34 %).
In the midst of Pink October, the month dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer screening, the ministry is highlighting the dangers of misinformation about this disease, "whether it concerns screening, mammograms, treatments, side effects or alternative practices.".
«"Outdated idea"»
In practice, the disinformation observatory, supported by independent scientific expertise, will conduct continuous monitoring, publish barometers and research, and may lead working groups, the minister's office specified.
It also relies on a "« infovigilance system »"tasked in particular with organizing the concrete "« response“.
This second tool relies on a community of public actors (regional health agencies, research institute) to report "weak signals" of disinformation circulating on social networks or observed in the field.
Experts will then be able to produce elements of response disseminated on the Santé.fr website and social networks, including TikTok, via a new dedicated account, "Le CheckUp".
This social network was chosen, the ministry explains, because it« gathers the most cases of disinformation »"and to reach young people.".
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«Nothing new“
In some cases, the ministry may respond by« almost direct » in « comment »"to viral posts"« spreading misinformation“.
In terms of resources, no "« specific envelope »"is not planned for these devices, the day before"« is operated within the communications department of the ministry«", who will"« perhaps be reinforced a little“.
But these announcements do not bring "« Nothing new«" , laments pharmacologist Mathieu Molimard to AFP, one of the authors of a report on health disinformation, submitted to the government in January and recommending 10 measures.
The observatory, "« It's an outdated idea, especially without resources.«" he declares, also deeming it unnecessary to "« chasing after misinformation«" , who is "« without limit“.
The expert also regrets the absence of a reporting platform for all healthcare professionals and of "« legal response »"to punish those spreading disinformation.".
The report he co-authored argued instead for the creation of a public medical information website, independent of political authorities, and validated by a scientific committee of experts.
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