EU launches updated ‘Code of Practice on Disinformation’ which will see platforms implement new measures

Meta, Google, TickTock and many more have signed up on European Commission updates.Code of practice on distorted information‘, Which aims to increase enforcement action against a concerted effort to mislead users through a variety of online manipulations.

Explained by European Commission:

“Today, the Commission welcomes the publication The code of practice on distorted information has been strengthened. 34 signatories, such as platforms, technology companies and civil society followed 2021 Commission guidelines, And we have taken into account the lessons learned from the Kovid 19 crisis and the Russian aggression in Ukraine. “

New reinforcements made on the initial contract Practice code Which was launched in 2018It was the first official, cross-authorized effort to address the effects of online misleading activities.

Although the definitions are important here – ‘False information’ is misleading or misleading information, which can often occur unintentionally, when, for example, a user shares a false article which they believe to be true. ‘Confusion’ is a deliberate, concerted effort to defraud – a significant difference from a legal enforcement perspective and a key pillar of this new code.

The goal of the update agreement is to reduce and address misleading programs.Financial incentives for such programs, empowering users with better tools Expansion of fact-checking operations to identify, understand and flag misleading and expedite detection and application.

The code will now also cover advanced forms of duplication and manipulation, which will see platforms develop an integrated approach to dealing with such activity, which could be a major step towards improving detection and response.

The code also includes measures to ensure transparency in political advertising – ‘By allowing users to easily identify political ads for better labeling and information about sponsors, costs, and display time.

“The signatories will have 6 months to implement the commitments and initiatives they have signed. In early 2023, they will submit their first implementation report to the Commission. “

This is a big step, which could have a big positive impact in tackling such activities, every platform is now being responsible for implementing these elements.

Meta welcomed the announcement of the new code.

Meta, of course, has long been pushing for greater industry control, taking responsibility for the implementation of isolated platforms.

Meta, like all platforms, would prefer more hands-offs and allow users Communicate freelyWithin legal limits, but in recent times it has been forced to make difficult decisions about what is allowed and what is not in its apps, which has at times led to significant feedback from users.

Such new regulations are a step towards greater oversight, which will equalize the playing field for all platforms, as well as remove the decisions of posts that break the rules from its own moderation teams.

It will be interesting to see how new regulations are enacted, and then the implications – and how the EU responds to new issues and concerns in real-time.

There is always an underlying risk involved, as it depends on who decides what is right and what is wrong. But the focus on ‘confusion’ specifically limits the scope in this case, respecting clearly intentional, integrated programs designed to deceive users for a specific purpose.

This could be a big step, which could later extend to similar areas.

You can read the new EU Code of Practice on Disinformation Here.