Facebook has removed one of the largest anti-mask groups on its platform for violating its policies against spreading misinformation about covid-19.

The public group unmasking America! Had more than 9,600 members. It made several claims which have been widely debunked about masks obstructing oxygen flow and having a negative psychological impact.

Some of the groups are private, meaning a group admin has to approve new members before they can join. The US centers for Disease Control and prevention recommends people wear masks in all public areas, which should limit the spread of the virus.

Facebook’s action came after an inquiry about the group from the verge. Spokesperson dami oyefeso said:’we have clear policies against promoting harmful misinformation about covid 19′.

According to Facebook’s rules, if a group SHARES false news repeatedly, the platform will show the group’s content lower in users’ news feeds.

The unmasking America group page included posts of members wearing masks emblazoned with the make America great again slogan. Other posts described experiences dealing with stores that require masks, and many posters asked how to claim an’exemption’.

An image of a’face mask exempt card’ issued by the’freedom to breathe agency’ was linked to prominently. Law enforcement officials have warned that such cards’do not carry the force of law’.

Among the private groups are the’million unmasked March” group, which has more than 7,800 members.’we believe that our children wearing masks to school is physically and psychologically damaging. Join us in saying no more masks!’.

About two dozen states now have some kind of public mask requirement in place. Even president Trump tweeted that it was’patriotic to wear a face mask when you ca n’t socially distance’.

A scathing report in April found 100 pieces of misinformation were shared more than 1.7 million times and viewed about 117 million times. Facebook announced April 16th that it was adding a warning label when a person liked, commented, or reacted to a post with fake coronavirus information.