EU Pressures Facebook and Google to Intensify Fight Against Fake News

Tech giants like Facebook and Google will have to intensify their efforts and demonstrate greater determination in combating the spread of fake news online within six months, or they risk further regulation from the European Union, according to the European Commission’s strategy for fighting fake news published on Thursday.

The European Commission will draft a Code of Principles on disinformation by July that will apply across the EU and will include measures to prevent the spread of fake news, including increased oversight of advertising.

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After it was revealed that Russia attempted to influence American voters through Facebook ahead of the 2016 presidential elections, the EU is particularly concerned about the spread of fake news that could affect the European Parliament elections scheduled for May 23 to 26.

Russia denies allegations of attempting to interfere in the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections.

“These online platforms have failed to act reciprocally, showing that they are not up to the challenge posed by disinformation and the manipulative use of their infrastructure,” the Commission wrote in the document.

Advertisers and online platforms should demonstrate “measurable effects” of applying the code of principles by October, otherwise, the Commission may introduce additional measures, including sector regulation.

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Companies will need to enhance efforts to close fake accounts and take measures that will reduce the revenue of disinformation spreaders and limit targeted options for political advertising.

The revelation that the British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica improperly collected personal data from up to 87 million Facebook users further shook public trust in social media.

“There are serious doubts about whether ‘online’ platforms adequately protect users against unauthorized use of their personal data by third parties, as demonstrated by the latest example of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica,” the Commission’s document states.

In March, an independent expert group submitted a report to the European Commission’s Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel, which also recommends promoting media literacy to combat disinformation, developing tools to empower users and journalists in the fight against disinformation, protecting the diversity and sustainability of European news media, and continuing research on the impact of disinformation in Europe.

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At the same time, the European Digital Rights association warned the Commission not to rush into imposing binding measures regarding fake news, as such measures could affect the limitation of freedom of speech.

The Commission claims that measures against the spread of fake news “should strictly respect freedom of expression and include guarantees to prevent their misuse, such as, for example, censoring critical, satirical, opposing, or shocking speech.”

Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip confirmed that there was an internal discussion about whether to explicitly mention Russia as a country implementing a strategy of spreading fake news.

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“Some said they did not want just one name mentioned but that other countries should also be on that list, but unfortunately, no one could name those others,” said the former Estonian Prime Minister.