Credibility Trumps Fact‑Checks

Fixing misinformation requires rebuilding public trust in institutions and scholars, not only supplying correct facts; when authorities dismiss plausible hypotheses or hide uncertainties (as with the lab‑leak episode), corrective facts lose purchase. Policy responses should therefore prioritize transparent processes, academic freedom, and accountable communication as much as debunking. — Shifts policy focus from content removal and fact‑checking to institutional reform and communication practices, affecting regulation, public‑health strategy, and academic governance.