Table 3.
Global Cases of Internet-Driven Influence on Health Policy (2015–2024)
| S.No. | Country | Year | Trigger Event | Digital Mobilization Outcome | Policy/Operational Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 2017 | Mandatory vaccination law. | Facebook groups coordinated protests and misinformation. | Public education campaigns and modified communication strategies. |
| 2 | South Korea | 2018 | Health insurance expansion for traditional medicine. | 1 M+ petition signatures, viral protests. | Government transparency portal and live Q&A forums. |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 2018 | NHS data-sharing agreements with tech firms. | Data privacy groups are mobilized online. | Revised contracts to enhance patient consent protocols. |
| 4 | France | 2019 | Hospital funding cuts protest. | Viral Facebook movements and online petitions. | Emergency budget increases for public hospitals. |
| 5 | Japan | 2020 | Mental health support post-COVID. | Online forums criticized limited access. | Expansion of telepsychiatry services funded by the government. |
| 6 | Brazil | 2020 | COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. | WhatsApp misinformation campaigns exposed. | National fact-checking task force created. |
| 7 | Australia | 2021 | My Health Record privacy concerns. | Reddit and Twitter discussions about data breaches. | Strengthened opt-out mechanisms and data security assurances. |
| 8 | United States | 2021 | COVID-19 vaccine eligibility confusion. | Viral debates on Twitter, accusations of inequality. | Multilingual FAQs, virtual town halls, and policy clarifications. |
| 9 | India | 2021 | Oxygen shortages during the Delta surge. | Viral hashtags, citizen journalism videos. | Real-time oxygen tracking dashboards launched. |
| 10 | South Africa | 2022 | Vaccine mandate protests. | Online organization of nationwide protests. | Scaling back of certain mandate policies. |
| 11 | Canada | 2022 | Roll out of mental health e-services. | Patient advocacy groups mobilized via Reddit. | Adjustments to e-therapy access policies. |
| 12 | Nigeria | 2023 | Maternal healthcare reform controversy. | Nationwide social media mobilization around maternal health issues. | Policy amendment to include more rural clinics. |
| 13 | Philippines | 2023 | Dengue vaccine (Dengvaxia) controversy revival. | Renewed social media debates over vaccine safety. | Reopened public investigations and safety reassessments. |
| 14 | Germany | 2024 | Digital vaccine passports (privacy concerns). | Privacy advocacy is trending on Twitter and forums. | New privacy protocols and opt-out options have been introduced. |
| 15 | Australia | 2024 | Digital vaccine passports: privacy concerns. | Privacy advocacy is trending on Reddit and forums. | New privacy protocols and improved patient data protection. |
| 16 | China | 2018 | The quality issues of vaccines produced by Chang Sheng Bio-tech Co | The public questioned the safety of vaccines on the online platform. | Legislate to strengthen the implementation of vaccine supervision. |