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EU Includes Major Platforms in Disinformation Code, Excludes X
Under the Digital Services Act, all significant online platforms except X are mandated to adopt a formal disinformation code by July 2024.
The European Commission announced on Thursday that, under the auspices of the Digital Services Act (DSA), all major online platforms—excluding X, formerly known as Twitter—must formalize their voluntary commitments to counter disinformation by July 2024. This initiative aims to integrate the 2022 Code of Practice on Disinformation into the framework of the DSA, establishing a standard for assessing compliance among these platforms.
The original code was signed by 42 companies, including prominent names such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok.
It outlines a series of provisions designed to bolster transparency in political advertising and improve cooperation during electoral processes.
A senior EU official emphasized that the formalization of this code would enhance mechanisms for compliance checks; however, signing the code should not be misconstrued as a guarantee of legal immunity.
The European Commission had set a goal to finalize this initiative by January 2024, aiming for the new measures to foster significant engagement rather than merely fulfilling procedural requirements.
X, after being acquired by Elon Musk in 2022, opted out of the code, which has led to its exclusion from this formalization process.
The DSA, which became effective in August 2023, marks a significant regulatory step by the EU in its efforts to address online safety and accountability.
Since its implementation, the Commission has initiated investigations into various online platforms, including X, TikTok, and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, focusing on their practices related to disinformation and hate speech.
Recent parallel initiatives to formalize industry commitments against illegal hate speech online have also been undertaken, reflecting the EU's broader strategy to regulate digital content compliance across platforms.
The original code was signed by 42 companies, including prominent names such as Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok.
It outlines a series of provisions designed to bolster transparency in political advertising and improve cooperation during electoral processes.
A senior EU official emphasized that the formalization of this code would enhance mechanisms for compliance checks; however, signing the code should not be misconstrued as a guarantee of legal immunity.
The European Commission had set a goal to finalize this initiative by January 2024, aiming for the new measures to foster significant engagement rather than merely fulfilling procedural requirements.
X, after being acquired by Elon Musk in 2022, opted out of the code, which has led to its exclusion from this formalization process.
The DSA, which became effective in August 2023, marks a significant regulatory step by the EU in its efforts to address online safety and accountability.
Since its implementation, the Commission has initiated investigations into various online platforms, including X, TikTok, and Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, focusing on their practices related to disinformation and hate speech.
Recent parallel initiatives to formalize industry commitments against illegal hate speech online have also been undertaken, reflecting the EU's broader strategy to regulate digital content compliance across platforms.
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